Progress Chaplin, Angela Stallworth, and she is providing us these invocation by zoom.
Amen. God bless you. Commissioner Presley, I believe Amen, man. Yes. All right, I first giving honor to God who was the head of my life, my Lord and my Savior Jesus Christ. giving honor to those that are not yet there but to our Detroit Police Chief white and chief chaplain, Davenport and also to the board of Commissioner police commissioners in their absence and until they get there, we're believing God for each one to have speedy travels and safe travels their Father God in the name of Jesus, we have come before You, Lord, and we are submitting petitions before you, oh God that we would affect their will, in all that we do. Father, we're asking that you will see the sincerity of our desire that everything for our city, the furtherance of these petitions would be in order and would be a blessing for the people of the city and also for the officers that are concerned and also for those that are laboring in the city. Father, we are asking that everything be decent and in order, even those that would like to conduct business in this city Father, we're asking that you would oversee everything that this board has presented before. It today. Father, we're just thanking you and believing that everything is in alignment with your will. And it is so in Jesus name. Amen.
Hey, man,
thank you so very much. You're welcome. I don't think that we don't yet have a quorum. We will move to items of the agenda that we are able to do without one, come here and kind of an echo. I don't know what that's about. Anybody can handle that for us, please. Thank you. And so we'll move to an announcements from Mr. Brown. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Good. Afternoon.
The next Bo PC meeting will be Thursday, February 29 at 3pm. The location will be here at Detroit Public Safety headquarters in the Skylar Herbert room. The next community meeting will be Thursday, March 14 at 6:30pm with the 10 precinct hosting at Dexter Avenue Baptist community center. That address is 3350 West Davis and 48 and Mr. Chair the medulla committee meetings for February 2024. Citizen complaint committee meeting meets Tuesday, February the 27th at 5pm. Policy Committee meet Tuesday, March 5, at 5pm and all those will take place at Detroit Public Safety headquarters and you can also view them on Zoom. Now, thank
you and we can go ahead and receive your report as well as incoming communications. Mr.
Chair there's only two communications on there you got a letter from Mr. Sun certainly love the law your subnet which was in the board's office on 219 2024. And then you have a public inquiry that came in or 215 2024. And both of those items are located in your package.
Thank you. I try to engineer it sounds as if it's coming from this TV here. I don't know if the volume can be turned down on it to stop the echo through the Chair. Thank you. Yes,
it is possible that the Secretary could read the letter from the attorney into the record since it is illegal.
I'm sure he confidential documents so we will avoid doing so with that, we will now move to oral communications. And so for those who are here on Zoom, we will receive your public comment now. But again, noting how early it is. There will be another segment for public comment for those who might not have had the opportunity to make it to the meeting this early on. And so with that, Miss Underwood, who do we have,
sir? We have Mr. Eric blunt and miss for Dr. Butler.
Afternoon board, but I have to know a mad as hell this week. There is the number of citizen complaints is almost doubling. It's quickly rising to almost 2000 complaints every year. But the most horrible thing about it is that they are but a symptom of the lawsuits and the false imprisonment and the rate that happens in prison. Friday, a Wayne County jury awarded a young black man $10 million because he was falsely arrested. He was falsely in prison for six years because the Detroit Police officer and their leadership decided not to reveal critical information that could have proven his innocence.
I'm sorry, this
is no time for jokes and games and and whatever. But you can't seem to avoid it. Your puppet tears have told you what to do and you do it. Down to when you have the opportunity to talk to DPD senior management. You play a game that is just sick. So you want to talk about illegal dumping. Commissioner Hernandez you want to talk about missing persons. Commissioner would you want to talk about offer your personal services to all of those you just promoted? Commissioner Bernard but that is not the time for this. This is critical. Young black men are suffering in a most horrible way because you refuse to do your jobs. I said it before and I'll say it again. I choose to believe that the vast majority of police officers are hardworking, honest people. It is how we do not deal with the corrupt ones. That makes this whole situation dangerous. Thank you.
Thank you. We do note that our quorum is present and so we will suspend our public comment and get to our regular agenda. And with that we will have introduction of commissioners by Mr. Brown.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair.
Good afternoon.
Jefferson Presley here for us to person Bill Burson Commissioner Smith. Present Commissioner Bernard.
Attorney Linda Barnard district two
commercial banks.
Mr. Burton, Commissioner Willie burden is present on our behalf and majority Detroiters that wake up every day in poverty.
Missing more Commissioner Hernandez submitted an excuse absent Commissioner gamble and submitted an excuse as commissioner would present.
Alright, with that we do indeed have a quorum and so now we'll move to the approval of the February 22 2024 agenda. Is there any objection to the agenda Hearing none the agenda will be approved. Now we'll move on to the approval of the minutes for February 15.
Commissioner burn wanted to move some line item around. Okay, that is your right. I like to move public comments for those that have not made public comments but I like to move public comments to after the department's presentation for today.
Okay, and so, the recommendation to amend the agenda to move public comment after the presentation to the board. Is there a second? Okay, hearing no second, again, is there any objection to the agenda as has been constructed? Hearing none, again, the agenda is approved as written Next we'll move on to the approval of the minutes for February 15 2024. Is there any objection to these minutes? Hearing no objection, Those minutes are approved. And now we'll move on to the approval of the closed session minutes from February 15 2024. Is there any objection to those minutes? Hearing none the minutes are also approved. And now we will hear the introduction of the LPC staff Chief of Police elected officials and representatives as well as community leaders by Mr. Brown. Got
to know Mr. Chair. Turn is definitely the bail. Chief Investigator Jerome Warfield. Miss Teresa blossom Miss Johnny Underwood is Jasmine Taylor. Miss Candace Hayes, acting supervising investigator Elgin Murphy, American Sign Language Miss Angela Taylor and Miss Carter DPD HR director Katina Portillo? Mr. Don Handyside is a court reporter. sighs doing the video. Sergeant Allen queen is doing the audio. Sitting in for the chief is Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald. Back to the official Miss Murray overall from representing Tyrone's coroner's office. Mr. Don Davis, city council Fred drew halls office, former Commissioner William Davis, Mr. Ron Thomas DB or vice president. And I know DPO attorneys in in attendance as well. Right
Thank you. We again are appreciative to everyone's attendance. And our hope is that it adds to the productivity of today's meeting. And now we move on to the border police commissioner's offices report, where we have a resolution honoring Lieutenant Rodney Cox and I would ask that Vice Chair bill, read that resolution into the record
what's
up thank you Mr. Chair. resolution honoring Lieutenant Rodney Cox whereas Ronnie Cox was appointed to Detroit Police Department on February 22nd 1993, on graduating from the Metropolitan Police Academy of the COC began his career at the 13th precinct patrol operations section and wears office cocked multi assignment from July 1994 to 1990. Also COC sir what went into housing support, division, or trolling and so on to say to a public housing resident. He was later assigned to restroom prison support, commonly known as Rico West, providing a precinct support for the west side of the city. It's all was assigned to the T S S. Tackle service section where he ate it and since citywide patrol and tech will respond, says barricaded gunman situation, Prowl curl and dignitary X score, whereas officer Cox were promoted to the rank of investigate and was assigned to to break in entering test for and later to the lab and pretend investigator Operations Unit. Investigating cocksfoot pass through to consult various investigation ranging from assault, death, fraud and weapon possession and effort to mitigate investigator Cox rose through the ranks in a mode may 4 2001. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was reassigned to TSS is Rome is role now in compass supervisor members tasked with CTY tackle response and prison support. He was assigned as a first line supervisor essential district is other assignments include the Office of Chief of chief of police and office of the chief investigator and where's Sergeant Cox with promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was fine as the officer in charge of the Southwest District investigation. Workers Comp pass at the second, fourth and temporary second. Lieutenant Cox were responsible for management and oversight over staff or Sergeant investigators. On October 7 2013. Lieutenant Cockspur pointed to rank of captain where he provided ministration oversight of several different commands. Captain Cox serve as the commanding officer of nitro and then a temporaries. He was also assigned to organize crime where his responsibility were to maintain operational multi unit the system of vice narcotics commercial auto theft, the violent crime Crime Task Force and food group Detroit fear did it in house and team and whereas in November night 220 Lieutenant Kaku assigned to the 12 prison correct and Cox was signed to cooperate and as a patrol lieutenant, where he managed and manner sergeant in the next generation of law enforcement until Creech it opened his career on February 23 2024. Lieutenant Cox was deserving was receipt recipient of the Fallen ward three chief merit award for fireworks award. Oh consent judgment award, Major League Baseball All Star recognition board, Rosa Parks funeral risk recognition wars Super Bowl XL Recognition Award and Aretha Franklin piano Recognition Award as well as numerous letters of commendation from Citizen and supervisors and superior were Tsutenkaku currently served a Tripoli poverty the citizen or chore and neighborhood community for more than 31 years. Yes, sir. Detroit Police Department of citizen Detroit with lordy professionalism, integrity and dedication and widely respected throughout law enforcement commanded as consummate professional now therefore be resolved that Detroit was a police unit speaking on behalf of the citizens. Great to Detroit. Recognize honor lifelong contribution and commitment to excellence and public service. Lieutenant Rhonda Cox is displayed a courage and unwavering community spirit has improved the quality of life for the citizens of Detroit. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors. We thank and rec cleanslate Lieutenant Rhonda Cox,
the chair entertain a motion to adopt this resolution into archives. Second, I need a motion to start. So move and then your second second. Okay, it's been properly moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Hearing no discussion all those in favor please signify by saying hi. All those opposed, no. Right. The eyes have it and congratulations on your 31 years of service to the city of Detroit. Is Lieutenant Cox here.
I don't see him No, no
he's not but again, ensure that he receives this honor by just a few housekeeping announcements if you will, under the board of police commissioner's offices report. You will find there will be a policy report that will be given later today. At our last community meeting. There was a title given to meeting attendees, calling them committee members. But
after the review of the bylaws,
there is currently no policy that allows for either staff or community citizens to be considered as committee members. And so we will hold off on giving that title until a policy has been established. again, but they will be counted on the record as meeting participants.
But again, not as committee members as the bylaws does not afford for that. And then again as we prepare for our next community meeting, we know that it has become a practice to ensure that we honor individuals in our community who has done amazing things. But I do encourage all of our commissioners to review the award protocols because again, the awards that comes from this body should be focused on police safety, public safety and oversight. And so we want to make sure that we align our commendations with that criteria, because again, we want to make sure that it maintains its weightiness by ensuring that we honor those who indeed are doing amazing work in those regards. And so again, if any commissioner needs that policy to review, we'll be more than willing to share that. But again, wanted to share those two bit of announcements under our Board of police commissioner's officers report. Are they any further questions or comments? Yes, Commissioner banks.
Yes, right here Mr. Chair, when you say police Safety and Oversight, given the community awards to the community residents in the city? Yes.
So when we give certificates or appreciation or resolutions or any other commendation, again, we want to make sure that it is in line with Public Safety and Oversight because again, that is the business of his body and so as we honor it falls under that category, those categories. Mr. Commissioner Bodnar,
if, if a resident of the commissioners district is a distinguished as a business person who employs youth in that community, which obviously affects public safety in that community, to me there would be no issue with respect to recognizing that person agree there are things that happen in the district that are per se law enforcement, but that affect law enforcement, and those individuals should be absolutely
but again, and these definitions of Public Safety and Oversight are broad categories, but I guess what we're requesting is that we ensure that the commendations are tied to some level of Public Safety and Oversight. So just as you have stated very eloquently, a business leader who has employed someone who can reduce crime that is germane and appropriate, okay, but again, we will ensure that all of our commissioners can review that protocol. So again, we can ensure that we're aligned with our pilot current policy, by chance the board desires to change that policy that is within your right. But as the policy currently is written, again, we want to make sure that we're aligned with that promise, everybody,
the policies, those two policies you mentioned guessing. Thank you.
You're so welcome any further questions for the board of police commissioner's offices report? Hearing now we'll now move on to our chief of police report where AC a federal is in on behalf of the chief.
Thank you chairperson Presley and to the dishonorable board. Just quickly update on the injured officer. We still have one at home, doing his best to recover. The officer that was shot in that location I were on Bert road. Our crime data. Again, never celebrating but the numbers continue to trend in the right direction. We're down six homicides over last year. It's a 19% decrease. We're down 30 non fatal. Shootings over the last year it sits at about a 31% decrease. Our robberies continue to trickle down. Were to a 35% decrease. And carjackings are cut in half at this point in time it's a 50% decrease. And overall Part One violent crime is down just under 10%. Which, again, we're excited we're moving things in the right direction. Hopefully we get down under our numbers from last year that would be ideal and mental health related calls for service it looks like we are having a slight decrease over not only calls for services but services that we've calls we've actually serviced that leads me to believe that maybe we're getting some of the right folks the right amount of help they need so very, very excited about that. Calls for servers for overdose related calls are also going down and so are the number of calls we actually have to service so very positive. In my eyes, significant incidents this week. The first one, you know, listen, I don't I don't really get any good calls in middle of the night but this one especially was not a good call on Tuesday February 20. About 412 in the morning. Officers are dispatched to the 6000 block of Pennsylvania and we had a non fatal shooting an 11 year old female squirrels laying on the couch in the front room going to just I'll call them cowards and that's my word, no one else's. To that we know for a fact we believe there are two more involved in the vehicle ran up and fired a bunch of rounds into that house. She is still hanging on she was a fighter. Continue to keep your arms wrapped around here and hope for the best. We are happy to report that we've taken four people into custody. We are looking for an additional fifth person and possibly a sixth person as this thing starts to build out. It's also I know the chief said at his press conference tied to a stolen car ring that ties back to another shooting I'm going to talk about in a minute so we're making some some ground on it but it's unfortunate that 11 year old is sitting in a hospital right now and she should clearly be doing other things and second shooting is a federal shooting at Friday, February 16. About 134 in the morning. This is the other incident. This is a 17 year old man that a boy that was sitting in his car when another car drove by and fired a bunch of rounds into it. That vehicle was a white Mustang that he drove past him. That vehicle was recovered. It was one of the vehicles that were stolen from a recent auto dealership. We discovered that vehicle was on fire. So we got a little more work to do on this one. I think we're getting closer but as always we'll take any information we can if you can call crimestoppers or Detroit rewards TV. We will take that. Also on Friday, February 16. About 6:58pm officers were dispatched to the 20,000 block of starter to investigate a fatal shooting. The officers arrived the observed the victim lying in the middle of the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers and medical admitted excuse me medical assistants until the medics arrived where they declared the victim deceased. Detectives had been able to determine that after the shooting, two suspects were seeing running across Van Dyck and a dark colored SUV was seen driving way south from starter. Again if anyone has any information, please contact Crimestoppers wanting her to speak up or Detroit warlords TV. And the last incident I want to cover real quick briefly is from Tuesday February the 20th. At about 11:14pm officers were dispatched to the 13,000 block a Wilford it was a ShotSpotter alert that went off after receiving the alert there was the alert was for 99 rounds officers check the error and found the link to the victim lying in the yard. We medics arrived he was also pronounced he was deceased. This This one's pretty much wide open at this point. We really really need the community's help. So if anyone knows any information about the incident happened on February 20, please call crimestoppers or Detroit rewards TV. Quick positive story Coffee With A Cop at the Fourth Precinct this past Tuesday, the Fourth Precinct held Coffee With A Cop event with Commander holder bomb. Community members came out in neighborhood police officer to have discussions to build better relationships. It went very very well. We have a one day hiring fair this Saturday. So you're all welcome to come out if you wish. From 7am to 5pm It's a one stop shop you can come through and do your application and take your tasks and do everything and we will make it as quick and as painless as we possibly can. If you're interested in joining the DPD whether it be sworn or non sworn and then the precinct Purple Heart Health events several of our precincts have habits throughout February and it's just in recognition February being American
Heart Month CEO of encouragement corner outreach.
And lastly for me that wasn't really question, Leslie for me is that this morning we had a celebration of life Homegoing for Danny Newkirk, also Newkirk recently passed after 30 years active member 38 years of service. So please keep his family and your prayers. So wonderful. That is all I have.
Thank you. Questions for Assistant Chief of General Commission and burden. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Question for the chief. You know, looking at the department's budget Fars, $400,000 for six square miles for ShotSpotter. You know, the community want to know how effective is it has ShotSpotter been, you know, especially for the price tag that the city is investing in, you know, want to know when it comes to alerts, arrests, convictions, falsely detain and lawsuits. Do you have any of those numbers? Going back since the time that Detroit started being part of the ShotSpotter program
yesterday through the Chair, I don't have them with me, but it's something that's very easily attainable. Again, the value of ShotSpotter is you can't you can't place $1 on it. You can put within nine feet of where shot was going out we don't we don't have folks that can come out want to call the police on a regular basis. That puts us there quickly and as quickly as we can get there and identify all the shots. It saves lives. It helps people it is a valuable valuable tool.
Chief. Are you aware that Chicago is canceling their ShotSpotter program?
Later this year? Microphone, Mr. Commissioner, thank you.
Are you aware that Thank you. The city of Chicago was pulling away from his ShotSpotter program.
I am but I don't know why they would do it and I don't this isn't Chicago, the city of Detroit they don't do it like we do. They're not as good as we are. They don't have a strong policy. We have. So again, my opinion, my humble opinion. It's an extremely valuable tool that we need to
achieve How valuable is this is the ShotSpotter program when you have a lot of alerts very few guns confiscated. Not enough arrest. Not enough guns confiscated and they you still have lawsuits and cities pulling away from this. Why is Detroit is still involved in the ShotSpotter program.
And again through the chair. I don't I don't know where you're getting your information from most of it seems anecdotal. It is very, very valuable. And it is like just as much the most recent one I talked about. This young man was sitting in the backyard. It could have taken us days weeks to find this young man but ShotSpotter put us exactly where it was. We had all nine rounds and it led us to something it's leading us down the right path. So sometimes it's not the quick we get out there and we do we lock a lot of folks up we take a lot of guns off the street Streamy valuable but stuff like that we didn't have to wait forever not forever, but a long period of time to get that information.
Are you familiar with the Sivan Simmons case and Rochester New York? Where just say ShotSpotter was unreliable? And are you aware of the multimillion dollar lawsuit that falsely arrested and convicted Michael Williams out of Chicago based off a skank evidence from ShotSpotter technology?
I'm not sure either, but I'd be much more excited and much more enthused if these were Detroit cases. You were citing problems that we had in Detroit but you haven't had that yet. So I don't know what Rochester New York is doing. I don't know why the judge ruled the way the dip. Thank you any
further questions in the banks?
Here?
Hey, see? It's true. Now a Shot Spotter is supposed to have supposed to have accuracy or what 90% Are you aware that over 90%? Yes. Okay. Now, what's typical was this in that case, Ellen Van Dyck, what are the assailants? Were I think running, what zip code is that it was a district 3.234 You didn't mention the zip code? Zip VanDyke
Yeah, I don't have it with me the actual zip code or area code or? I don't I don't have it. Sorry.
I'm all set you Mr. Chair. I mean, Mr. Chair,
thank you any further questions or comments? Commissioner Bernard is just quickly.
Deputy Chief is Jarrell. I think that Commissioner Burton's questions were merged. We're right on in terms of ShotSpotter and I think that perhaps your office or maybe the legal department, Mr. Hawes here, whoever should be able to respond to those questions. We are not at work. We're not on an island. We are concerned about what happens in other cities and other communities using the technology that costs us millions of dollars. So these reports about it being inefficient, ineffective. For all practical purposes, not worse than money are important. And I think that kind of analysis is appropriate for all of our technological type programs. Is it worth it? I mean, I know we can spend more money for it. We can throw money in anything, but but is it is it worth it and flood to your colleagues in other cities? Think about it. That's important. So I don't think it's, it can be dismissed and if you can respond that maybe not today. But maybe at our next meeting to his to his questions. It would be great.
You're on through the chair. And I don't mean to dismiss the questions that Thank you. The problem is that it's there. You're comparing apples and oranges. I don't know what Chicago does compared to what we do. I can give you plenty of data, how it's effective in Detroit plenty of data. It'd be more than happy to do that. But to reach out to Rochester, New York to see how they're doing, how they're using it. I don't even know how they're using it. I don't know if they have two officers assigned to it. They have 1000 officers assigned to it. Do they kind of haphazardly go out and look for casings? Do they actually have a team to go out look for casings do they put things through night end? Do they do all the investigative leads that we do here that make it a valuable tool but I'm more than happy to reach out and see why they got rid of it and also be able to provide you the data that I'm why we say it works
and mission woods so Mike
How you doing AC?
Good sir.
So on this this incident that happened on January 11. With officer Joshua was that a spotter call?
Oh, I'm sorry. Which one was that? You're asking? What
officer job Joshua we got shot. Oh,
yeah. It came out originally as a as a muffled ShotSpotter. And sometimes that happens when a round is inside of a home. And it could also be came out also suppressed. It could be that it comes out of an area we've had requests from outside agencies and cities that want to have access to our data because they can get pickup stuff in their city as well on a border. So
when when that happened and he officer Joshua and his partner responded to that someone was shot, right? Yes. And that's he went into the into that danger. Yes, sir. And subsequently got shot. Yes. Do you have a number of scenarios where where ShotSpotter was used in they was able to intervene in situations? Yes,
we do. And I can provide for you at any point. Yes. Yes.
And as relates to the Chicago report, at the end of that report, they said they will re evaluate it. At the end. They don't know whether or not if they're going to get rid of get rid of it or not, right. Yes, sir. So it's not conclusive that Chicago we'll get rid of is by the way how they was knowing things. That they had some questions about how they was operating.
That is correct.
How many lives do you think that part had been intervenors say with with this technology,
sir, strictly be a guest but I would many, many. It is an extremely valuable tool that the officers utilize every single day. They can pull it up on their phone as they're going there. within feet. You can pick up for those gunshots or fire.
Commissioner Smith
Good afternoon to the chair. Um, I understand that police departments are different and policies are different per state and cities. Being a part of the shot stopper group and a CVI I can only confess to what Detroit offers I have seen where the ShotSpotter is definitely effective in our community. As stated before, I can give you two different scenarios that Shot Spotter was effective. We have one where spotter went off a woman the officer excuse me, the officers went out the woman was near fatally shot once in the head once in the abdomen and because of the Shot Spotter going off. They were able to get her medics were able to arrive and get her to the hospital and she's alive today. That was on the east side of Detroit in the ninth precinct. The second incident was on the west side of Detroit, where there was not a ShotSpotter the officer approached the vehicle where the woman had been shot. It was reported as the overdose found that the woman was fatally wounded. She was also pregnant and to track the same found that someone else was fatally wounded as well. It wasn't present. The third incident is back in September of 2023 September 24. To be exact, there was a fatal shooting at a Hookah Lounge on West Seven Mile the officers responded because of the ShotSpotter going off. Unfortunately, one was fatally wounded. Others worse saved because of the ShotSpotter in the officers coming in a timely manner. So in my opinion shot stopper has been very effective in our city and has been very effective and saving lives within our community.
Thank you. I don't know if you want to respond Commissioner Woods
No sir. Yeah.
As as relates to its being shots us spotter being used by itself independently. Will that be or any of your technology? Is that is that use solely to arrest anyone?
Ah, I'm not sure I understand your question. As
far as you know, you get a shots Get, get a hit or even like dealing with I would say facial recognition you thought my ShotSpotter and all these technologies and things of that nature. can those be used independently to arrest someone?
No, sir. I'm sorry, through the chair. These are investigative leads. Everything across the board we use technology for as an investigative lead to further enhance an ongoing investigation already. It just helps you in sometimes it can point you in the right direction. But it is not the end all be all that we can put handcuffs on someone because of
so is and recently the policy was updated to to make to ensure that even more right yes Sir Okay, thank you.
Thank you any further questions or comments to the chair Commissioner burden,
you know, from our civil liberties activist community you know, we do not want to see microphones since sensors. And Americans is Black is some poor city like Detroit. What it is what these microphones, sensors and communities of color is what it is is unwanted snooping is what it is I Valley violates one's civil liberties. In addition, it's a spin price tag that costs roughly $400,000. The Carver is six square miles. But the department can't share with us today. The total alerts in deployment and the rest and in convictions or or pending lawsuits or lawsuits that was that was awarded. Because of this technology. We look at cities like Dayton, Ohio, they pulled the plug on ShotSpotter now we look into Chicago pulling the plug. You know Michael Williams in Chicago who was wrongfully arrested that served over a year in prison for a crime he didn't commit based off a skank evidence. From ShotSpotter technology there's no question that you know, the cities are pulling away. Why is the trade still continuing is ShotSpotter program. We have fiduciary responsibilities when it comes to civilian oversight. Well, we can actually shut it down
alright, so I think that this has been a lively conversation that again, I think has illuminated you know, both sides of the argument that I think is present in our community. I would encourage the department to be prepared with that data for next week's meeting. So that you know, the aggregate numbers that commissioners are looking for can be provided along with anecdotal information and I think that will be a benefit not only to the commissioners but also to the public. There's no further questions or comments. We thank you so much for your report. And we will now move on to oral communications.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. We're gonna start back with Miss B. Miss Smith, are you going to speak today? So we're going to have Miss Smith and we're going to have Miss Vidya Butler. Then we're going to zoom
in does look kind of far today.
No, good afternoon. I am really upset with this meeting today because all you do is come here and complain and complain and complain. I'm from Chicago. I was born there. Matter of fact, I'm going over there next weekend. So as far as and I know the Secretary to the mayor I'm gonna make it my business to go over there tomorrow and I mean next week and talk to her and asked her Do you think the mayor Mayor Johnson has any kind of problem with the the what is the shot fire? Why are we complaining? Are we doing enough over here as we can, but this crime we've got police that that takes care of people whenever they do wrong they trying to get rid of the high hijackers you got someone that's killed last last week. Come on people stop complaining and do something to improve and I mean, also to this young man sitting here because I know he's gonna get up here and complain about what the police are doing. I love my police department. I have dealt with them since 73. I find they don't have the best of report, but they're doing the best they can do you realize that they're risky. I said over and over again. They risked in our lives. Why don't you get out there and do better get them the parents who have these kids ripping and running the streets and having guns. I am so disgusted when you talk about how the police is not doing and don't talk about Chicago because they worse than we are I was born and raised there. And I'm going over there next weekend. And I'm gonna look and see those immigrants are in front of the police station. We don't have any immigrants in front of our police station. And it's overwhelming over there. I talked to him every every just about every week because going over there and shadow and they tell me so don't complain and compare us with Chicago. We're doing a hell of a lot better than what you'd call them people are doing and as far as the mayor is concerned, he is doing a pitiful job. I must say that, but I feel sorry for him because he doesn't have the experience of the police influence. And one last thing before you tell me I get to get out quickly. I want to thank Chairman Commissioner woods you did a heck of a job with my son's wedding. And I want you guys to know respect him. He may or may not know say enough but he's a hell raise it but he did a good job with it and I thank him over and over again. Thank you
gratulations on a complaint I know you don't get up.
The afternoon Good afternoon.
Commissioners as president of the second precinct, our neighborhood police officers that work in our communities to keep our communities safe, but they also engaged with our children. They are mentors and spend some time in classrooms. As a former teacher and counselor. I believe more can be done. We can criticize what's happening in our schools and committee communities and do nothing to our work to help make change. We cannot build a house starting with the roof. But we must lay a foundation. It takes fonts and efforts to provide enrichment along with what the teachers are doing in the classrooms, with the officers interface and without interacting with our children. We will will remove fear and distrust of police. We want to start with third graders because their social and educational scales come together. We want to provide enrichment programs to contribute to the education and we need funds a single bus costs over $300 and we have six elementary schools in our area. The outcome of our enrichment programs will build character and better citizens as a council working with MPOs and communities include us in your budget. We will be grateful and accountable. And by the way, Detroit is a goldmine. And it's up to us. A lot of us complain but we don't do what we need to do for ourselves. suspect us. Thank you.
Thank you,
Mr Sherr. We'll move into zoom. Okay, we'll have Mr. Renard Mazoon. Ski please excuse the pronunciation. After after. Mr. Renard. We'll have Chris Gilmore Hill. Laura Verburg and former Commissioner William Davis and that'll be it.
Thank you
Mr. Renard.
Go right ahead.
Hi, good afternoon. For the record. My name is Renato Schinsky. I'm a District Six resident and longtime resident of the city of Detroit. I'm also a bus rider and I'm on progress writer. I am calling into this body to just elicit a few concerns that I have about this proposal that's been announced. We found a DPD police that are going to be deployed on to the transit system with DDOT. We already have a transit police system there. We have a good relationship with their leadership and our staff. They're responsive and their communication is excellent because we get to meet with them monthly and express our security concerns and the violations at transit centers and things of that sort have been going down because of their increased presence. They also have good training and understanding because they know how to deal with populations to individuals with different cognitive disabilities. Also, there may be people with autism may be a little bit slower. I don't know the other words for that but in risk of offending someone, they have the training to be able to deal with ability disabilities that are invisible, like someone being deaf. major concerns about DPD police being deployed on to the transit system due to their historical racial problem profiling concerns, or concerns about the lack of training for people with disabilities. There's been a record of violent incidents in terms of mental health incidents when they're caught on this lack of de escalation. So instead of someone getting help for a mental health crisis, they're shot to death. And that's the major concern that I have. Also because this hasn't been brought up in a form of popular form or a government form. I believe that this is a violation of our civil rights under Title six of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, where you're supposed to anything dealing with security and proposal with the buses should be announced to riders so they can able to make their public comment to that. So just wanted to ask who did this? Thank you. Who designed
the AC feature, or is this a proposal or has it been done?
It has not been done it as a proposal at this time. We are transitioning toward a date of possibly July 1 if everything falls into place. If it does fall into place, we will take over the DDOT portion of patrols the Detroit Police will and then the Peoplemover police will continue to do what they've been doing. It's a people mover police. We've taken over the cue line as of February 1, and so far I've received nothing but glowing. A lot of excitement out of us taking over the cue line. So we are moving in that direction. When we do it'll be fully staffed up it will be more people than DDOT currently has on their total budget. So they will see no no reduction in any kind of service and be more than happy to meet monthly with this gentleman and other bus drivers and we've met with their union. They feel really confident with us. So we're moving in that right direction, sir.
Thank you.
May I ask? Yes, Commissioner
Bodnar quickly,
but why are we doing this? We've had several comments not just this gentleman's but others talking about the Transit Police know how to deal with kids. They deal with you. They deal with senior citizens. They deal with the people that ride buses. They're used to it. They have an expertise in that area, so to speak. DPD has never done that. Why are you and why are you interested in assuming that responsibility? How much money is involved in it? When if you assume it, oh,
I don't want to get into the budgetary stuff at this point. But, but it almost makes it sound like we don't know how to deal with kids and seniors and people with disabilities. We do. We are the absolute premier agency in this country ma'am. So we are more versed better versed to deal with all of those things, whether it be on a bus whether it be on a boat, wherever it is. We can handle this and then some this is this is probably one of the reasons we were asked to do it
by the question is why and how much money is involved with this.
We will be taking over a portion of budget from Transit Police for sure. I just don't know what that final number is. Okay,
but why? So
we can put that question in writing and get a formal response as to what initiated the change and the rationale behind it so that you might receive clarity on its intentions. A commissioner would was
it stated that that many other transit officers the current officer with a under this proposal with a rollover to DPD
through the chair, there are a lot of different rules and things we need to work through like some of those folks have left DPD and they've retired they're collecting a pension. Right. They would have to freeze their pension to come back. Some of the folks over there licensed through the state of Michigan and others are not that are not if they came over they would have to go through the academy to become licensed. So we're we're some of the stuff we're working through now.
Thank you.
Miss Underwood our next public commenter.
Definitely,
yes. Go right ahead.
My name is Chris Miller Hill, a lifelong resident of the second district. Firstly, I'd like to urge this board to take action on the board that's been out for a long time recommending disciplinary action against Commissioner Bell. This board has so far failed to uphold its oversight duty to hold itself accountable, which kept for us the board to hold its own members accountable. I'm not sure how members are pleased. I'd also like to specifically thank Commissioner burden or raising valid concerns today about ShotSpotter and its utility in future within our city, as well as Commissioner Bernard and others for echoing those valid concerns, amongst the many things that the deputy chief unfortunately did not know today, but he made it very clear that he does not know or care to know about the policies of other cities regarding ShotSpotter yet in that in the same breath, he bragged the DTD is letting these several other cities in the area freely access surveillance data as part the surveillance data the targets destroy. Were given away this data in whatever form to other cities, despite having no clarity or no knowledge about the policies that govern the use of ShotSpotter. We certainly have massive problems. So do you need to do things with our own policy, but the fact that we're giving this surveillance data in other cities, where their policy where their policies and their payments are not and that should be a massive red flag for this poor to treat that as an emergency and urgently halt all sharing ShotSpotter data with other police departments until such time as the police department can provide a comprehensive accounting of the ShotSpotter policies in these other departments and the way that they are different from or similar to our own policy. Without that guarantee of accountability. None of this data should be getting into the hands of unaccountable police departments. Thank you. Thank you.
speaker Mr. Chair is former Commissioner William Davis.
Good afternoon. Have you heard this? You
can go right ahead.
You know, I think that you need to closely look at the ramifications of having Detroit police officers take over the duties of the Transit Police perhaps it might be better to look at why is it so many vacancies in the transit police unit? And also whether or not it the Detroit Police take that over? Would that be to the detriment of the community in that I live in district seven police precinct two? Will that mean that there'll be less police to patrol my neighborhood and other people's neighborhood? Also, will that also increase the possibility of more lawsuits against the Detroit Police Department as a city truck retirement president of an organization representing city retirees and also as president Detroit chapter, National Action Network. I do not want the city of Detroit have to pay more and more and more lawsuit right now. They're paying out millions of dollars. You know, I think that we need to do something about reduced the number of lawsuits and make sure there's greater accountability. And I don't know what's going to happen or what it can mean. But before y'all approve this, uh, hopefully I've been asked about it, and y'all voted on it. Because I will take your shirt before they start talking about making a major change in July. Thank you.
Thank you. And we're grateful for everyone's comments today. Oh, with that will. Vice Chair bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to respond. last comments in reference to Pending discipline action against Commissioner Bell. There's no pending distant action pending by this board or any passport. I think we will formally respond to that at a later date and time with the past chair of that board in terms of 2019 investigation IG report. I think you have to review that report and the outcome of we will reflect on a later date time. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank
you. Okay, so now we'll move on to the presentation to the board where we have a DPD budget presentation by Mr. Masako.
Good afternoon, honorable board. I'm here on behalf of the Office of the Chief Financial Officer DPD to present to you the department's request for the 2025 budget that starts on July 1 of this year and ends on June 30 2025. So please, next slide.
Commissioners you should find this after tab four in your packets.
Yes for clarification this presentation was provided by the to the board last week, I believe. And then the board had some questions that for the budget portion I tried to answer and I submitted those in writing yesterday as well
in the microphone.
This presentation, we'll talk about the numbers that were submitted the budget timeline and then some additional information as far as personnel is concerned.
Through the budget request, the purpose and the department and the city tried to have safer neighborhoods to achieve a vibrant and beautiful community to have economic equity and opportunity to achieve an efficient and innovative operations and to have effective governance. Next slide please. I'm trying to switch between my print out and the looking at the monitor there but unfortunately those are too small for for my distance. So I'm going to read from my my slides. Now. Budget process is a year year round process that that officially starts around August of any given year and then ends at the end of April when the city council approves the budget for all departments including DPD. We do have two deadlines, so to speak. We have the internal mandated deadlines that we we have internally and they are not mandated by the city charter or any ordinance. However, those internal deadlines are geared towards meeting the the stricter deadlines that are mandated by the budget ordinance and the city charter. And those deadlines basically the internal ones start in. As I said earlier, start around August September and then ends up they they finalized when the city the budget is approved from the City Council sometime before April 30 of any given year. Next slide. The deadline the slide that you see now includes or talks about the charter ordinance mandated deadlines. And based on those deadlines by February 18. The budget director should submit to the mayor the tabulation of department's request by February 27. The mayor completes the review and submit the budget back to the budget director. Then Mayor supposed to submit and make a presentation to the city council by March 7. Then City Council completes the consideration of the budget by April 7. And then the budget should be approved by the by April 30. So the Financial Review Commission that still around and oversees the finance for the city of Detroit has to have an approved budget by April 30 in in their hand and that's a mandatory deadline that cannot be missed. Now, in summary, the budget requests that DPD submitted, requested this year to the mayor's office and consequently to the city council is not that different or doesn't have any increases major increase I should say because there are some smaller increases from the baseline and we call baseline the current year's budget. So for the budget 2025 request is not much different from the current year's 2024 budget. Other than you know a few major items that I have listed on this slide and one of them is the increase in the amount of 11 and a half million dollars that is as a result of the labor agreements that were ratified back in 2022. So this is a mandatory increase that that the city is obligated to to budget for another very slight decrease that we expect in the fringe benefits. And fringe benefits are anywhere from the the types of insurances that we provide to the department to the taxes that we pay on behalf of the employees. So the we expect a slight decrease in that in that line item close to $3.5 million. The department has submitted a supplemental request for additional personnel 25 police officers, 14 of which should be NP Oz and the 11 cits. For a total of close to $3 million $2.4 million for personnel and benefits and $600,000 for operating expenses.
However, through the discussions with the Budget Office, the DPD has come to realization that this item may or may not make it to the proposal that goes to the city council.
And the reason is not because there's not anything else other than the the money issue because the the City this year, given the current stream of revenues and the increased costs as we said, you know, because the labor costs are not just increasing in the police department they are higher across the almost 7500 employees in the city of Detroit. Therefore,
this may be as I call it a casualty of the of the money situation.
So but DPD just to for your information for the information before the board DPD requested those 25 additional police officers. Now, some numbers and again, these are very high level overview of the numbers. For the current year for example, we have budgeted revenues in tune of $102 million and next year the budget request is only $100 million. The reason being is that the city forecasts that one major source of revenue for police departments is the income tax. And we projecting to have lower income tax collections in the 2025 fiscal year compared to the current year. So that's the end the line items Gods follow the general fund $84 million special revenues $8.4 million. And if you have a question what the special revenue is comprised of is the money that we get for the 911 operations and the towing fund. And I know that through your questions you had asked some pointed questions about the towing operations or rather towing budget. And the response I provided was, they included detailed numbers as far as how much we collect or expect to collect from towing operations and how much we expected to spend in that department. As far as the expenditures go, the DPD is requesting in the general fund for next fiscal year to spend $399 million the special fund expenditures again towing plus 911 operations $8.4 million for Future Fund $1.2 million and the grant expenditures in the amount of $6.8 million. Next slide please. The expenditures by fund again are listed in this slide and so is the personnel request. On the bottom half of the slide. You see that the personnel basically is staying intact with the exception of the supplemental request of 25 additional police officers
we we discussed the the changes from this current fiscal year to the next one. One change that I did not discuss and this shown on this slide is the fact that the cost for operating the Detroit Detention Center for next year is expected to grow by $3 million. And this is basically the amount of money that the city of Detroit pays to the Michigan Department of Corrections to handle the operations at DDC. Again, this is a just a pastoral charge. However the city of Detroit provides the amount to the to the state of Michigan on a contractual basis. As if it Gerald can talk more about that, but the arrangement with DDC between DDC and the MDRC is expected to end at some point in the next year or so. And then there DPD is looking for different alternatives. So at that point, but speaking strictly of this year's budget is going to cost the DDC is going to cost $3 million more in its operations. Next slide. Capital Expenditures this is the this slide shows the needs or the request of DPD for various capital expenditures and as you see, here, we are asking for $6 million to completely renovate this police precinct. And then we asking for the Grinnell Talat upgrades, boathouse and seawall upgrades, other facility upgrades throughout the DPD and then Grand River Toyota upgrades in tune of $1.5 million. I want to point out that these are the requests that DEP put forward through the budget process. This is not money that is supported by general fund dollars, at least in this budget. This if it goes through will be will be funded by the capital projects fund or bonds if there are any avail available. However, my hunch is that most of these projects may not we may not be able to fund
said most of them we will not be able
to most of it looks like the current situation or the money that is available for next year is not going to be able to support that but never say never but all of these not all of this I said you know part of this much
part is going to be fuzzy.
No I continue
the next slide the basically, again, talks about the personnel as I said the numbers from 2024 to 2025 are not different with the exception of the 25 additional police officers. Next slide. This slide shows the various grants that we are sure that we are going to receive in the next fiscal year and we have budgeted accordingly. However, this is not an all inclusive list because for a couple of reasons. A There are grants that become available after the budget, you know is put together back in December. This information was available to us and be the fiscal year for the city of Detroit that ends on June 30 is different than the fiscal year of the institutions or governments I should say that grant money to city of Detroit for example, the state of Michigan fiscal year, ends on June 30 and federal government's fiscal year ends on October 30 31st of any given year. Therefore, the grant spent and the time that the grants are awarded overlaps with our city budget. So therefore again, this is a snapshot at that point in time but as more grants become available, then we involve the city council and DPD to to apply and fully accept them. And that is my last slide in the presentation. Again, for the Board's information, the questions that you asked. I believe there were 15 of them. They were provided to you in writing and I'd be happy to answer any questions if
yes, and again, you all should see those questions and the responses to those directly after the presentation. So are there any questions for Mr. Darko? Commissioner Banagher.
Yes. I see your responses to this specific questions that were asked via regarding the budget and incidentally there is a line item in there for ShotSpotter about I think page three or something like that. But your your responses to the questions are are largely non responsive. And you reference you say that you see attached budget report how much does it cost city of Detroit to provide a towing operation for the police department. You say see attach budget report. There is no attached budget report specifically on towing. You do say that you say we don't budget for Project Greenlight, which obviously would be part of the real time crime center. There's nothing zero.
Commissioner Bernard I want you to look at page number nine where it says towing and it says $1.2 million to support towing operations including Tow Truck maintenance, private towing services, tow lots and rentals, not a when he's suggesting to review the report. I believe that's what he's pointing to. I
understand that but he you can also answer the question directly and not have me go fish through eight or nine. The
the I don't know how much more direct and it's more
than that because that you have two different line items in there. For total lots one has, I think 3.5 million, and the other is like one point some odd million. So I don't know, the total situation is much more expensive than than what we're looking at. I mean, at least if you add it all up. It's a difference. You
know, through the chair, the tone operations just for you know, the information for the honorable commissioner is that we budget approximately $3.2 million for Toy operations, and that includes personnel that includes the operation of tow trucks that includes the money we pay to the tow vendors, and that includes the manual pay for toilet security. However, that number, that's the budgeted number. The revenues that come throughout the year and other expenditures that can incur or are required to be increased during the year are not reflected in that in that budget that the Commission, the 1.2. Commissioner that Mr. Chair, you correct? Absolutely correct. That's the additional amount that we asking from last year to this year budget. We asked you for an additional $1.2 million because of the repairs we need to do at the toilet facilities plus the increased cost of security to provide security for the toilets. And that's the over and above last year's budget.
But the total amount that you're asking for the two toll lights, as I recall was more than 3 million. That
is correct, but we're talking about just to
resurface lots.
Nope. Nope. Madam Commissioner, the total budget is $3.2 million. And that includes no I'm not going by toilet. I'm going by the total total operations Okay, including personnel maintenance. of toilets, maintenance of trucks, and all that.
Commissioner words
Yes, it has to relate to the toys situation. And these these are all city of Detroit tow vehicles and tow tow operations.
That is correct. Those are all city of Detroit within the boundaries of the city of Detroit however, the operations are split between the Department of truck equipment, or tow trucks and the private vendors, equipment so the portion of the tolls is done by the department and the portion of the tours is done by the private tours
as relates to the private tours how many of those we had the
last contract we had we had seven private tours My understanding is that we suspended to one so we should have six at the current time. However, again, since we talked about next year's budget, the city Financial Office, Office of the Chief Financial Officer we expect to go out for bids. Those contracts will end on June 30. So between now and June we are going to go out for bids again to solicit private tours to bid for the for that type of service. Can
you tell me why? They were suspended?
No I can I can talk about the numbers. However, I cannot. I do not know as to why I know that we had seven now we have six. Okay.
As relates to far as fairness and equity in terms of you probably can't ask for this and maybe need to this need to be asked to the to the chief and you know we probably need to get a letter because I get a lot of complaints by residents of the city of Detroit in terms of some of the predatory nature of some of these tow companies are more of a tie to the city. I know I asked them names that they have given and things of that nature. And one thing we want to do is make sure that we ensure that citizens are not being exploited by some of these companies. You know, and I know that has been a big bone of contention and I know all of the nuances of this torn operation throughout the years of how problematic it has been. You know, so, you know, I would like to see in terms of you know, you know, I want to know why I don't want company was dismissed and and secondly, I want to make sure that we ensure that the citizens of the city of Detroit are not being paid on by some of these companies.
Okay, so let's memorialize
those requests in our records and send those to BPD. To get a response. Let the record reflect that Commissioner Lisa Carter has joined us Commissioner Burke and I'm sorry, Commissioner Woods
yes as as relates to the DDC operation. So this is this totally $3 million in expenditures for that.
Commissioner. Through the Chair, no, the total expenditures for DDC operations are approximately $16 million $16
million $3 million reflects an increased rise. Increase, right? Yes. Okay. Thank you.
Commissioner burden to the chair.
You know. You know, this is the you know, I have a lot of questions and concerns about this. Number one. I don't think the city of Detroit should be operating in his manatorian business number one, number two, what is it really costs and overall for the city of Detroit to operate in a toy business? And, and is the city making money or losing money? Because we you know, you're talking about $2.1 million that you know, that's a line item in the budget for twin but you're looking at the tow lot rental security, maintenance for the truck, all those additional costs. So we really want to know, how much does it really cost in the city, the city of Detroit to really operate in a towing business, shouldn't we be operating in a 20 business period from a city standpoint? And, and and is the city losing money or making money
through the chair?
Why cuz these dollars, you know, and this line item right here, they're losing money, we you know, these dollars can be reallocated into you know, you know, mental health social justice programs are, you know, it can be reinvested back into the community and stat on this report right here.
That's where the Chair if I may respond, although the operational question as to is the city cleaner or is the towing operations are helping to keep the city safer and cleaner? is a question that belongs to you know, the DPD and the mayor's office and all those financially speaking, I can guarantee you with 100% certainty that the city is not losing money or with a tow operations. This, as I indicated earlier, it's called a special fund. The definition of special fund is such that is aside from it does not cost taxpayers money. So it's self sustained fun, meaning that the fees that are charged by the by us for towing someone's vehicle are supporting that activity, the police officer or the tow truck to go there and pick that up. year in year out. The toll found was created cooperation started in 2018. And I've been here since 2000. It for the from the inception. The call fund operations has not requested additional funds from the city is a self sustaining operation. As a matter of fact, sometimes the the opposite is true that few dollars have supported
other police operations such as mental health and whatnot, but not the other way around. Lastly, on this subject matter how many lawsuits have had the city of Detroit paid out due to towing through the chair again, I am here to talk about the numbers that are presented and then in front of you to approve the budget request. In this budget request. There is not a single dollars that is related or requested to support the legal lawsuits because that's a different department that handles that we budget for them through a different pool of funds and outside of the DVDs. Operations. Thank you, Commissioner menarik. Mr. Chairman,
I would ask her that you revisit the questions that have been asked and give specific answers. I'll give you two examples. The first question five. Please provide details for the department's less lethal force technology for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year, including usage figures justifying the cost of the proposed budget line items, your response we have the tasers budget at 2.5 million for this fiscal year. The department has requested two point 50 point 55 million for fiscal year 25. That's not the total budget for less than lethal forces. They have those ropes that go around people that restrain people they have other things. You only addressed the Taser question, but when we act when we really want all the information,
let me give you one more example than I was but the other one is that the please provide a detailed overview of the Detroit ceasefire program for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year. Your response. The ceasefire program is now administered by the health department number one when did that happen? But okay. The police department retains a ceasefire team at each precinct. That includes a civilian analysts, three to six officers and a sergeant through grant fund. Grant funds. The police department leads the faith based coalition, a component of ceasefire, employing one project manner manager pardon me and two outreach coordinators to d s. DPS F sub award, the faith based coalition grant expire 630 2024 That doesn't give us the numbers. We asked for the numbers through the chair. explanation, but the numbers aren't here. The numbers are not there because, again, I'm presenting that $399 million that I said there includes those positions, which are different than you know in any given time. You know, today's ex police officer tomorrow is Why police officer at different periods. However, the fact of the matter is the grant that supports the cease fire operations is now was moved last year out of DPD to the health department therefore, this animal board aside from the operations questions that is a fair question to the DPD you know as the results of that, dollar wise, I'm here today to to present the dollars that we requested. We did not request any dollar amounts for the ceasefire operations. To the tourists. You have one thing our budget for DPD though, nope. There is a zero line item correct what you're saying. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Commissioner banks here. Mrs. Darko. Zarco. How? You get $2.5 million in a year's time going to tasers right. How long do the tasers last? That 2.5 million. We're paying for tasers? How long will lead Taser last? Usually we budget every five years for a replacement tasers however, they may last a little longer, six years or seven if we maintain them or we do some maintenance work on them. But we do budget as if they are going to expire in five years. So we buy beers by then then you gotta pay another $2.5 million for some more or whatever the going rate is at that time. Right. Gotcha. Okay. Commissioner burden duty chair, you know, question for Mr. Zarco. You know what cities with with the population of Detroit that have the police and the city involved in telling and have, have your office or the city have identified the best toy model where you in comparison to the size of Detroit. Anyone done the research will the chair I do not have any debt. Thank you. Commissioner woods. Yeah, so I'm very, very pleased that I will hope that this the city will have the toyon operating status. Some of these predators I'd heard about who was doing a deplorable job and Texan putting extra burden on the citizens of the city of Detroit. And this second way that we could be able to regulate anything that is, you know, outlandish and outrageous. Have you not stopped pontificating? As relates to the toying, are we seeing any less burden with this city operation of things and BPB operation? I think we stand a less burden on the citizens of the city of Detroit in terms of you know, you say we have a good surplus there and it's making money. Are there ways that we can find a reduction on the people when it comes to this you know, you know, they keep keep the car and the yard you get you get paid, you got to pay this amount of money for each day and things of that nature is I'm interested in if we could find a way to reduce the burden on the people of the city of Detroit. That's That's my question. Through the Chair, as we talked about earlier, this is fairly new operation and you mentioned that there is a large surplus and those are not my words, I'm saying that we are able to sustain the operations with the money we collect from the fees of the token operations however, I am not aware or not I'm not aware. I know for a fact that there is no large surplus. There are a few dollars you know, after we do but there is always impossible to come, you know to break even 00 however, to your question is what we can look into that DPD can look into that that when that point in time comes that that the the there is more money in the fund, then of course the fee reduction is something that the city could take a look at, at that time. Thank you guys. Okay, any further questions? The chair Commissioner burden, question for Miss Miss Zarco. There's $400,000 in the budget here for ShotSpotter technology for covering, you know, basically six square miles. Looking at the total arrest, total guns recovered convictions lawsuits, is the city at each rate can reinvests for $400,000 and another area that can really keep you know, help with quality life issues and keep citizens safe? Because it doesn't seem like 400,000 Seemed like doesn't seem like 400,000 Now is a good investment here. But do you see that we're four and $1,000 could be reinvest somewhere else in the city's budget.
Through the Chair again, I'm here to present the fact that DPD has requested 400 additional $1,000 to support the ShotSpotter operations. But and earlier, AC Gerald asked all those questions fully the you know, as far as I'm concerned, but to answer a Commission's question and the investment of quality of life. There are lots of other dollars throughout the city and to be exact in the number that was mentioned when the mayor met with President Biden $100 million from ARPA funds is going to invest in quality of life of Detroiters, and the schooling and all those things that come with that in parks and recreation all that so deeply. This budget usually is geared towards the safety and safer neighborhoods. And and those numbers that are presented here again, although overall quality of life is absolutely tied to those numbers. But I cannot answer that question as to what the 400 laws can do it there you go.
But Mr. News article, we talked about how the police department is, you know, line item in the budget where we talked about alerts for ShotSpotter we talking about officers being overworked. You know, we're trying to respond to those alerts, false alerts, many of them are false alerts. Very few guns are being recovered. Very few arrests are being made. How many convictions, lawsuits civil liberties are being violated? Right here in Americans Black is poor city like Detroit. Do you feel that the 400,000 that was additional is needed in this line item in this budget or can you find an area in the budget where the four and $1,000 can be reinvested to really do quality work in good and city?
You don't have to respond to that. I think that question is better directed to the department. And I'm sure
I'm sure the department can answer it too.
But let's see if Commissioner Brown wants to add to that question or Yeah,
I want to clarify this that $400,000 It says in response to the question, how much money is currently being spent on on ShotSpotter for the current fiscal year? What exactly is the budget for the next fiscal year? Where is the money coming from? How much money if any, is being saved from using this technology? What is the existing financial liability of the department for lawsuits arising from wrongful detention related to ShotSpotter systems? The answer fiscal year 24 spending year to date is four 451 Out $451,325 additional invoices are expected later in the fiscal year, fiscal year 25 baseline request for 1.7 5 million plus a 400,000 as a supplemental request, so it's an over $2 million project. funding is allocated from the general fund. That's a full $500,000 We
will share that's a full response that I will give I'm sorry, that this whole response, Madam Commissioner, because we do we have budgeted 1.7 of this year Thus far we have spent 451,000 By now between now and June we expect to pay another $1.3 million and then next year, the budget you correct we asked you for $2.1 million for the entire machinery three miles square square miles. Yes. For ShotSpotter.
Casey for doing anything. Yeah,
yeah, to the Chair, if I may. And we're gonna give you this in writing because that's what the commissioner asked for, but in 2023 there were 18,065 alerts in the city of Detroit. Of those alerts. There were 63,493 rounds of gunfire. All of those 18,000 Only 14,000 I'm sorry, 14,588 did not have a responding 911 calls they did not call 911 of those 18,000 Gunshots ShotSpotter alerts were connected to 144 homicides and non fatal shooting reports in an RMS 144. Of those reports. 56 did not have a corresponding 911 calls for service ShotSpotter alerts for 2023 were connected to 693 firearms recovered and 403 arrests. And again I'm sorry if you're losing sleep over 400,000 It took one gun to shoot that 11 year old girl. One I don't know how you can't find it. But again, my humble opinion the
response is incorrect. That's my point. None of these responses are truly responsive. To the questions that are abused by
sin is incorrect. You read it and he said that's exactly the response he would give now and he said you were right when you read that response
and now but that's the point we'd include like less less than lethal force weapons. We have more than tasers. We have other things. You don't have these respect.
These are one sentence responses to serious questions by the commissioners. It's not responsive Sir.
Duly
noted.
I encourage all of our commissioner to use diligence and so if you have responses in the answers that were given that you find to be insufficient, make sure that you communicate that and I'm sure there might be some clarification that's available
but let's not mix issues here when the response you read he said it's absolutely correct. So I'm gonna see how you can say it's not accurate now, if you want more detail than that, again, is your right as you're seeking for due diligence but make sure that we're being appropriate and how we're excuse me accurate and how are we communicating to the public on what we have received? Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. They will like we are by laws require excuse me yet.
I still have additional questions for sorry, I exhausted your question. Oh, no, absolutely. I'm just get warmed right though right here. Commissioner burden. So, you know, question was to the Zarco. You know, the Detroit Police Department participate in a 1020 1022 program, as well as the 1032 report round with the Department of Defense. We want to know what dollars that going that's in the Detroit Police Department's budget that's going into the Department of Defense to whether it's for heavy down equipment, or purchases of new equipment. We also like to know what lawsuits have the city has paid out. In pertaining to those different you know, far as military grade equipment, you know that the city of Detroit has purchased through those programs. So we don't know the lawsuits. We don't even know what DPD has as far as an inventory what they're received over the years. When this equipment was deployed. We know that when you have peaceful protesters in the city and the police department were wearing wire riot gear, that was military equipment that was deployed on the streets that day you had innocent protests of thrown to the ground, shot with Flash game grenade. pepper sprayed, blown down with zip ties behind the back and many some of them were actually journalists.
Through the Chair, Commissioner, on a lighter note, you and I have been around longer that I know as soon as I saw the question on 1022 and 1033 programs, although they don't come with Commission's names. I assume it was you because you and I have been going back and forth on this for last five years. And no, this was a lighter note. But what's your question? Is that the budget that I presented to you in high terms does not include a single dollar for 1022 1033 or whatever that program with the federal government is if DPD has any equipment from those programs. last five years we have not paid the dime. And when I say we have been in charge of finances, we have not paid a dime if they're donated or whatnot. That's a different type of question that I recommend you ask me that. Do we have any military type of equipment and then ACV Gerald, I'm sure you know, we'll be fully capable of answering that but dollars wise, keep in mind that I'm here to justify or not justify, but to give you the full account on that $399 million. There is not a single dollar in their budget slated for any type of military equipment.
Okay, so
Detroit Police Department once again participates in two programs and 2210 33. One program allows them to get hammered down equipment by just calling up the Pentagon and another program with the Department of Defense allows them to purchase new technology, new toys, new armored vehicles, assault rifles, whatever first military grade equipment, what is their grant dollars that allows them to get this because they have these toys The question is Wes and Detroit's Police Department's inventory went to last time any of this technology was deployed, but the dollars is coming from somewhere. We just like to know where they were, where the line item is in the budget.
It's not in that budget. Okay,
thank you so very much for your report. Commissioner Bodnar,
just real quickly. You have on your budget request. The there's not a page number just says appropriation name appear. We have about $7 million in grants. Is that correct? Yes,
that is correct. 6.8
ATPA preventing autoset fiscal year 25 3.8 million what is that? I
just want to know ATPase the other theft program I'm sorry,
other theft program. And so that money came from the 3.8 million came from state
of Michigan. I'm sorry state of Michigan the insurance company's state of Michigan has a fun day program that goes through the different municipalities. And the terms are that 50% is supported by that and the city of Detroit pays another 50% for the police officers that support that. That operation.
Okay and the Justice Assistance Grant of 1.1 million. That's from the Department of Justice. I assume the
correct federal government said for I don't have the details of that but to support police operations and the mainly the the crimes and this but again, it's not in
the future can you say where the grants come from? If it's a federal grant or state grant?
We can do that. Yes. To the question.
My question to the chair commissioner, Commissioner
Burton.
Question for the chief. When the last time Detroit Police Department received anything from the Department of Defense for US military grade equipment, and the 1022 program as well as a 1033 program
through the chair to the best of my ability last thing we received I believe was one of the helicopter blades on either the 1972 Helicopter we have or the 1976 helicopter. What was that? I don't recall off top my head and get that information for them.
I like we also like to have know the inventory of every thing that the department received from the Department of Defense from the 1022 program as well as a 1033 program that's in your inventory as well as when that equipment was ever deployed. We you know from oversight standpoint, have a right to know when the Detroit Police Department is participating in service such programs we don't even have idea was in the inventory when the last time any of this this stuff was ever us. We like to have a detail. Thorough detail of every military grade equipment that's in your inventory.
Of course and through the chair, sir, if you can just put that in writing, please because you asked a lot of questions there. The View, California
and the last question from Mr. Zarco. Is $6 million for the 12% for renovations. Can you can you break down the material costs? Why's the renovation is $6 million. You can buy a building for a lot less than that. I mean a dog on Pontiac Silverdome. So for a half a million. You know, we talked about the Pontiac Silverdome. So why $6 million is for renovations for the 12% rule
the chair, that is an estimate of the cost after DPD through their management services went and did an inventory as to what needs to get done and whatnot. The $6 million dollars is just that an estimate is not an authorization to spend their money. If we were that that if the city gives the DPD $6 million to renovate the 12 pressing is going to go through the all hoops and and motions to that every single dollar goes through approvals through contracts to bidding through the throat contracts all that. So, the detail is there next to the slide I wrote there what needs to be done, but more details DPD. Again, through the written responses we can supply that as to what did we estimate to cost $6 million?
Thank you and I'm gonna ask any further questions be put in writing and then you can get those formal responses either from the CFO or DPD
Max one quick
one Mr. Quickly, very quick ways to budget that now we had about $600 million DPD 600. Somewhere in there. No
they all funds out should say is around $440 million. All funds not just general fund 40 portfolios.
I'm set mister.
Thank you the total city budget.
Total city budget is close to $2 billion dollars. I'm sorry $2 billion.
It is Commissioner Bodnar, you would not be recognized. Again, make sure you put those questions in writing and I'm sure you'll get your response. Our bylaws require well, it encourages us to give an hour. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for the report. Our bylaws has an hour for public comment and there were some commenters that got in before the four o'clock hour. And so we want to take this time to allow them to speak. So who do we have
Mr. Scotty Bowman. He signed on before that hour. Okay.
Mr. Bowman, are you there?
Yes. Can you hear me? Yes, go right ahead. Yeah, first of all, I wanted to commend Commissioner Burton on his very thorough questions regarding the city budget. I think there's lots of pork in there and there's lots of things that can be trimmed. And it's kind of hard to say where to begin but when I heard about like, just, just now something about the $6 million toward renovating one of the training centers. I remember something on that order of a budget for renovating it a couple of years ago. It just seems like there is this money that constantly needs to be spent on things that is a very large amount of money that one would expect to be purely maintenance funds but actual construction funds like he was stating, but it seems like these things keep coming back in a perennial fashion and it just, it just seems way accessible. And as far as like towing I don't see why that can't be outsourced. And if there is abuse, and then there needs to be, you know, apply the oversight powers of the Police Commission to see that there isn't abuse and I do know there has been abuse in the past with private tours, but at least they can be overseen and called to task by the city government. If the city government, on the other hand is doing the same kind of shenanigans of private businesses, there's no oversight on that. Now you got the fox watching the chicken coop so to speak. So, you know, we can't have that. And that's that's something that concerns me also. Now I'm finally one thing unrelated to the budget that I just felt like commenting on again, and you know, I commented down this before, but um, I really think the Detroit Police Department needs to take missing person cases seriously. And when people like Ashley Smith goes, reporting her missing sister Sheltie. To the police that they actually carry out the investigation and accept the report and at least put out a you know, just to call out that she is a missing person. Thank you.
Thank you. That's the only commenter. All right, thank you so very much. And now we'll now move on to new business haven't already done the board secretaries, incoming communication and announcements. And so we'll begin with the policy committee report about the chair of the policy committee. Commissioner Bernard.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On behalf of the Board of police commissioners policy committee, our updates are as follows regarding the meeting held on February 28, a couple of days ago here at police headquarters. The board attendees were myself, Darryl woods and Commissioner Burton the community other members that were present, including Acting Secretary Robert Brown, Jasmine Taylor, and our guest speakers included commander in air severity from a north was pronounced and I apologize. He's from major crimes. We had Marvin Jones, the executive manager of crime intelligence, which is Project Greenlight. We had attorney Eric Williams from the Justice Center, Detroit and Mr. Kenneth nicks and the president of the organization of exonerees the special guests that attorney Eric Williams, this presentation was on Project Greenlight, the Justice Center and he represents the Justice Center in Detroit. Attorney Eric Williams reviewed and discussed concerns on Project Greenlight. Please refer to the city's website to view the PowerPoint presentation on that. Commander Ian Sweeney and Marvin Jones addressed some concerns regarding the meeting and provided certificated clarification on Project Greenlight. Marvin Jones reported that he will take all of the questions and suggestions developed during the policy committee meeting to the chief of police to provide additional clarification. Attorney Williams agreed to continue to work with the committee on the improvements and evaluation of Project Greenlight. There hasn't been one since it's been here. Since it was started by our former chief regarding the policy two Oh 3.11 eyewitness identification and lineups. There was a robust discussion really led by Mr. Kenneth Nixon. Mr. Nixon, we reviewed all of the recommendations in the current policy that we're getting ready to bring to the board. I've asked him to redline that policy and give us his specific feedback on various provisions of that, and I'll bring those back to the board. He is agreed to work with the committee in the future to assist with the improvements of the language. In the policy. It's important to note that he represents not only the Innocence Project here in Detroit, but he's on the statewide Innocence Project Board as well as the national board. So this is a very, very educated, if you will, proficient person regarding these issues concerning eyewitness identification, since most of the convictions that are overturned are related to faulty eyewitness identification. And we'll say Mr. Chair, that is probably one of his primary concerns is that that we that we train officers on eyewitness identification since that's the biggest area where people are wrongfully convicted. There was also as a prpc resolution for Detroit leadership and community success regarding President Obama's goals for 21st century community policing. We didn't miss Teresa blossom was scheduled to make that presentation, but because we had two guest speakers, two very prominent guest speakers, as well as the department representatives. We didn't get to that, but we'll get to it at the next meeting. And we'll also have at that meeting, the drivers the drivers license plate readers policy draft of that, as well as a review of the bylaws. I've started that but I haven't done anything. I've started it but I haven't finished it. Finally, the next policy meeting will be March 5 at 5pm in this room. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you. Any questions for the policy committee? I commissioners here
today. I just want to say I watched your committee yesterday on Zoom me and me and my wife and you teared a very good committee. You had a large crowd there. The crowd was very COEs and I we enjoyed it. We watch it the whole two hours man or however long
are the questions or comments for the policy committee report. Hearing now we thank you.
If I may, Mr. Woods, you know just to address the fact that you know and you know, we hear sometimes that that we're not doing our due diligence and that we're not listening to the right people but when you have the likes of a Detroit Justice Center attorney in there, who was in our meeting last week have full opportunity to have a robust discussion with members of the department. I thought that was phenomenal. And as well as to be able to have someone who was exonerated who did 16 years in prison wrongfully, you know, heard reference you know about the to me not a lawsuit and things of that nature. I personally was in that trial, setting that trial as a trial watcher, you know, and heard the different nuances in that particular case so that we do have a sensitivity to make sure that we protect the citizens of the city of Detroit. And so, it was a great robust conversation and the policy is being developed to ensure that people do not get wrongfully incarcerated.
Thank you, would you Mr.
Deputy. Chief Fisher, please convey to the chief, our gratitude for him ascending. I'm allowing those two gentlemen to participate. And I look forward to their participation in the future. Generally, Deputy Chief Haynes is part of our meeting as well. So I want every I want to keep this going. Sort of, hey, thank you. Okay,
and so now the chair entertain a motion that we enter into closed session pursuant to section eight A of the Open Meetings Act MCL 15 Dots, excuse me. MCO 15.2688. The department's request for the board to consider administrative leave without pay, but with medical benefits for police officer John Criswell, badge number 2871 assigned to the seventh precinct. So no more improper moving to second any discussion, hearing no discussion, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, no. The eyes have it we will now have a That motion passes. Not have a five minute recess to set the room up for closed session we ask that all exit the room, who are not a designated to be in closed session. Thank you. recording stopped