Board of Police Commissioners, Evening Community Meeting
12:25AM Dec 13, 2024
Speakers:
Keywords:
quorum established
invocation
approval of minutes
introduction of staff
2025 calendar
annual report
resolution honoring
chief of police report
homicides down
officer-involved shooting
downtown services
body camera footage
FOIA process
budget approval
policy committee
Will estimate one two, testing,
testing one, two. Recording in progress.
Good evening. My name is Ricardo Moore, Chairman pro tem of Detroit board of police commissioners for this particular meeting. The time is now 630 we're going to begin. As you see, we do not have a quorum, so we'll go straight into invocation. Is there a pastor? Yes,
let us pray Our Father, which art in heaven? We thank you for Mayor Dugan and the city of Detroit, Chairperson woods and the board of police commissioners, interim police chief, medicine and the Detroit Police Department, as well as the many wonderful people and of the city of Detroit, Father God, we ask now that you open our hearts and minds of the Board of Commissioners the Detroit Police Department and the citizens of Detroit as we move into this meeting, as we meet, Father God, guide the decision making to serve and protect The people of Detroit as well as the Detroit Police Department, Father God, we thank you for those in attendance, and ask that you bless all in attendance with a safe journey home. Father God, we acknowledge your son. Jesus is the reason for this season and in our hearts and minds, we pray for peace and joy in the new year This we ask in Your Son, Jesus, name, amen.
Amen. Thank you for such an awesome prayer. This time again, we do not have a quorum, so we'll go into introduction of Bill, PC, staff, Chief of Police, elected officials, representatives and community Leaders.
Applause, I think Commissioner
Moore this evening we have
at this time we do have a quorum, so we will go into introduction of commissioners.
Secretary, ready,
Commissioner woods, Commissioner Smith,
Commissioner Bernard attorney Leonard Bernard. Attorney Leonard Bernard District Two present
Commissioner banks, present Commissioner bail was excused. Commissioner Carter present. Commissioner Hernandez present, Commissioner de Walsh present, Commissioner Presley, here.
You have a quorum, sir, thank you, Madam Secretary, this time, can we have a motion for the approval of the December 12, 2024, agenda. Second, it's been moved properly. Second, any discussion. All in favor, say, Aye. Aye. Any opposed motion? Motions. Yeas. Happy. Next, we have the approval of the minutes from December 5, 2024 Can we have a motion
so moved? Second,
it's been moved and supported properly. Second, any discussion, all in favor, say, Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Now we'll have the introduction of the OPC staff, Chief of Police, elected officials, representatives and community leaders.
We have present this evening, chief investigator, Warfield, attorney, Dante Goss drew freeze, Felicia Tyson, Theresa blossom, Robert Brown, Mary Barber, Candice Hayes, Jasmine Taylor, army. See a Joshua. We also have Deputy Chief Arnold Williams. Our ASL interpreters michikata and Dr Stephanie Beatty are on Zoom. Court reporter, Don handy side for audio visual, Gregory live in good Charles Henry for Media Services video. We also have Marie overall of State Representative Tyrone Carter's office. We have Ladon Davis office of council member Frederick Hall on Zoom. Also we have former Police Commissioner William Davis on Zoom. Sorry.
Thank you, Madam Secretary, the chairman is here now, Mister Chairman, we are on your report with the blbc 2025 calendar.
Uh, thank you very kindly. Uh, Commissioner Moore, and pardon my weakness. I was at the radio raising $2 million for the citizens of the city of Detroit.
So we'll go to,
let's go to, I want to entertain a motion to approve the vopc 2025, calendar moved by Commissioner Hernandez, second by Commissioner. More any discussion. There have been no discussion. All in favor, say, aye, aye, and one opposed. The motion is carried. Let's go to commissioners for your review for the draft of the 2023 annual report is left in the pocket of your binder. I entertain a motion to prove the vopc 2023 annual report. So moved support, moved by Commissioner Bernard, supported by Commissioner Moore. Any discussion? All in favor? Yes? Discussion, yep.
I just want to publicly commend Theresa blossom, who put this magnificent report together. She's a great editor and obviously a key member of the Board of police commissioners support team. Thank you, Teresa.
Any further discussions? There being no further discussion. All in favor. Say, aye. Aye. Anyone opposed the motion is carried. Let's go to the resolution of the unit and University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Is
anyone present from the university? Oh, great. Come to that meeting. That middle
you see them. They them distinguished gentlemen. I news,
These two gentlemen are remarkable. This is Brother pointing who's the president of the University of Detroit, of school, high school, and mister or father Kennedy. Father Kennedy. So everyone in this room should feel blessed, amen, and the real sense of words. And I say that, ladies and gentlemen, because I'm Catholic, and went to Catholic school for 12 years at Saint Gregory, the little school, when they had school from the first grade to the 12th grade. That's where I was. So it's a real pleasure and an honor for me to be here with both of you gentlemen. I still remember the mass in Latin. Don't be no COVID school, right. Anyway, back to the point this is a resolution honoring the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. So hold on here in the heart of Detroit, where the echoes of history blend seamlessly with the vibrant energy of progress, there stands a beacon of hope and learning, University of Detroit, Jesuit High School and Academy. It was established in 1877 the institution has spent over a century shaping young men's minds, guided by the Jesuit tradition of academic excellence and service. It is here that generations of students have been formed into quote, men for others only. Men can attend University of Detroit, Mercy Academy, men for others committed to making a difference in their communities and beyond. And whereas, since 1930 the University of Detroit, Jesuit High has been more than a been more than a school. It has been a steadfast anchor in northwest Detroit. It's sprawling campus and welcoming presence embody the spirit of stewardship, reflecting a deep rooted, committed commitment to its community. Among the schools many strengths is this inclusivity. More than a quarter of the student body hails from the from Detroit itself, proudly calling u of D Jesuit, Jesuit, their academic home. Remarkably, every single student repeat, every single student who walks the halls achieves the dream of college acceptance, 100% a testament to the institution's dedication to educational excellence, where And whereas, the school's influence, however, extends beyond Its campus less than a mile from its main campus, the vacant Johnson Recreation Center once stood as a symbol of neglect, but through vision and hold on I can't see but through vision and determination, the University of Detroit worked with the community to transform The space into a vibrant hub. Now it bustles with both students and activity, offering health and wellness facilities, meeting rooms for local associations and spaces for youth programs, adult education and seasonal events, revitalization, brief breathe new life into the Bagley neighborhood, working a deeper connection between the school and the community it serves, and whereas on its main campus, the story is no different, the schools track welcomes neighbors and provides a state a safe and inviting place for health and wellness activities before the bell rings. But perhaps most inspiring is the way u of D Jesuit instills in its students the values of service and compassion. Programs such as the library ministry, where students provide aid to Detroit's homeless, the pallbearer ministry, which offers dignity to those who have passed without family, and the senior service days demonstrated the school's commitment to shaping men who give selflessly and whereas this spirit of service resonates with the faculty, staff, administration and alumni, who embody The Jesuit values of dedication, innovation and commitment to the personal and spiritual growth of each student. Together, they form a community of leaders who carry forward the school's mission to light the way for others. University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy is a cornerstone of education, community engagement and service. Its legacy enriches the city and inspires all who encounter its story. As the school continues its mission, it remains not just a place of learning, but a symbol of hope and transformation, a guiding light in the heart of the city of Detroit. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Detroit board of police commissioners, speaking on behalf of the citizens of the great city of Detroit, recognizes and honors the lifelong contributions and commitment to educational excellence and public service of you would be high school and Academy, their display of 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. May I present this to you, Mr. President?
Much I want to just say, one
second, I'll make a motion to adopt the resolution
made by Commissioner Hernandez and second, supported by Commissioner
wash.
Discussion, all in favor. Say, aye. Anyone opposed the motion is here. Congratulations, congratulations, thank you.
The only thing I want to say is the best thing about u of D Jesuit High School is the D Detroit. Thank you.
All right, let's go to the chief of police report.
To the chair. Yes, sir, we'll start with homicides. So homicides are down. We're down. Actually 40 homicides this year from last year. We're down. 189 now, fatal shootings this year from last year, same time, we're down 176 robberies, and we're down 18 carjackings. The non fatal shooting numbers are extremely good numbers. Of course, we would like to have no shootings at all, but to have a decrease of nearly 200 from the previous years, it's just great word, um, looking at significant incidents. The first incident we'll cover is a fatal shooting that occurred on Friday, December 6, at 1:45am officers were dispatched in the 1300 block of Manor to investigate a shot spot alert that was later upgraded to a fatal shooting. Officers received a Shot Spotter alert of 17 rounds being fired in area, and this was about 1:46am officers arrived at the scene about 150 and they observed a victim suffering from gut shot wound. Medics arrived at the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital, where the victim was pronounced deceased. On arrival, officers from the second precinct secured the area, and detectives from Homicide were notified. Detectives arrived at the scene, conducted preliminary investigation. Witnesses state that the victim was observed talking to two males dressed in all black before the shooting. The incident is still under investigation. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Crime Stoppers at one 800 speak up or Detroit rewards.tv again, that's one 800 speak up for Crime Stoppers or Detroit rewards.tv online. Incident Number two was a carjacking spree that occurred that resulted in officer involved shooting. This happened on Saturday December 7. There were actually a number of carjackers that happened prior to this one, but it's Saturday December 7. At about 11:45pm officers were dispatch to the 13,000 block of lane point to investigative carjacking. Officers arrived on scene and spoke to the victim. She stated that she was parked in her driveway, sitting at 2020 22 Lincoln, when the suspects approached the driver's side door of her vehicle, produce handguns and point the matter. The victim stated the suspects ordered her out of the vehicle. The suspects entered the vehicle and drove away. Officers from the ninth precinct responded to the scene, and detectives from the commercial auto theft section also responded. Later that evening, detectives were able to track the victim's vehicle, and this was a short amount of time to Conant and outer drive area. Detective sat on the vehicle and did surveillance on the actual vehicle that was stolen, and the whole point was to apprehend the suspects with the vehicle. As the detectives who were sitting on surveillance, they observed the suspects exit the vehicle, armed with weapons, and they attempted to do another carjacking of a Dodge Durango detectives then attempted to apprehend the suspects, at which point one of the suspects produced a weapon. Officers fired shots at the suspects, injuring a suspect at the scene. Additional suspects drove away from the scene and the victims, 2022 Lincoln, but were arrested out of drive and East I 75 service drive, a total of six suspects between the ages of 14 and 16 years of age were arrested and detained at the scene. Detectives from commercial auto theft section continues their investigation. Our premier preparing to submit warrants to Wayne County prosecutor's office as a suspect. Our suspected committing multiple carjackings in area. Incident. The next incident was a fatal shooting, and this was concerning the retired DPD sergeant. This happened on the west side on Tuesday, December 10, at about 5:40pm officers were dispatched to the 15,000 block Canfield to investigate a fatal shooting involving a retired Police Sergeant. Officers arrived at the location, observed the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital. He was pronounced deceased. The suspect and several witnesses were still on the scene. Upon the officer's arrival, the suspect, again, who was a retired Detroit police sergeant, was arrested at the scene. Officers from the eighth precinct preserved the scene, and detectives from the homicide section were notified. Detectives determined that this was a landlord tenant dispute between the victim and the suspect. The suspect claims to have shot the victim in self defense, fearing the victim was armed. Detectives from the homicide section are preparing to submit a warrant to the Wayne County prosecutor's office for review. The last incident, this was the another officer involved shooting, where we had an officer who was injured, and the officer was not critically injured, on Tuesday, December 10, at about 11:28pm, officers were on routine patrol in areas Saint Mary's and Cambridge, where they observed the vehicle blocking the sidewalk. Officers observed two suspects inside the vehicle, and asked the suspects to ex the vehicle, the suspects refused to exit the vehicle, and one of the officers attempted to open the door. As the officer attempted to open the door, the suspect accelerated and turned the vehicle towards another officer. The suspect then sped away, striking the officer, at which time the officers fired shots at the suspect. The vehicle drove away, but was discovered a short time later, two blocks away from the scene. The officer was transported to a local hospital where the officer was listed in stable condition. Officers arriving to check the area discovered one of the suspects a short distance away, suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspect was transported to a local hospital and listed in critical condition on Wednesday, December 11, the second suspect turned himself into police. The incident is still under investigation, and the Michigan State Police are conducting an investigation on the OIS by the officer going into what's happening with the department. We have Detroit good fellows, law enforcement day. This happened Monday, December 9, Detroit, good fellows law enforcement Day was held at the old news Boys good fellow fund, Chief medicine and officers packed and distributed boxes for children across the metro area. Cast Tech had their championship parade on Tuesday, December 10, the cast tech Football Championship parade was held on Woodward Avenue. Detroit Police Department assisting in keeping the parade safe and chief medicine issue certificates to the coach and to the team this upcoming Wednesday, I'm sorry. This upcoming weekend, on Saturday, December 14, our organized crime unit will be visiting and conducting outreach with the unsheltered population. Specifically, at 12pm on Saturday, they'll be visiting the Genesis house two for research on the I'm sorry for outreach with the unsheltered population. So that will we don't have any right now. We don't have any officers that are critically injured that will conclude the chief's report, pending your question or any questions,
any questions, yes, Commissioner boss,
thank you for that very detailed report. I do have a question with regard to the mass deportation that is expected to happen on day one of the Trump administration. I'd like to know how the department is planning for it, and what are those plans. So
as of now, we have received anything from any federal entity about any master deportation. It's always been the department's position to basically not Well, let me rephrase this. It's been a department's position to protect the position of all of our citizens that are within this city. I can't speak specifically for the chief, and I won't speak for the chief, but I don't think that position will change. We all know that with the new incoming administration that there's going to be a lot of challenges, and I can't specifically say exactly how we're going to face those. The first thing we have to do is see what orders come down, and then we can be more specific in what we do.
Thank you. I'll be asking in the future as well. Thank you.
Any further questions? There have been no further questions. Let's go to the
secretary report or communications downtown services, or downtown services with are they in here? So downtown services is not here. Apparently there was a some type of miscommunication. I am prepared to give just a brief overview from downtown services perspective, and I'll start if the board will just a sec do
so downtown Services section is headed by Commander Fauci and Captain Duda, and downtown is part of the third precinct, and specifically the downtown, if I can put This in a perspective, because I don't have a graph or any type of visual aid, the third precinct is made up of 12 geographical areas. Those 12 geographical areas are called Scout car areas. Downtown covers two of those geographic areas, and we call them Scout car area 311 and scalp area 312 so with the downtown footprint, we'll talk about the crime. So in the last 90 days, the part one violent crime, and both the downtown services area, Scout carrier 311 and 312 311 it was down 18.6% and then 312 is down 34% they've done a lot of improvements. As far as property crimes, one of the biggest things that we know is with the downtown area, a lot of the crime that occurs is event driven. So with the different venues we have, from for field, LCA, and all the the the bars and some of the the areas that we have that also do retail, we have a lot of things that occur, but the lions tailgating. We also have large things that go up. We have D and E's. The third precinct, along with downtown services, has, every time we have an event, they'll have two types of details. They'll have a counterfeit detail that'll work around the actual whether it's LCA or Ford Field, and they also have a B and E larceny team that will go out. They've made a number of good arrests recently, and overall, the third precinct is doing doing very well. They're actually down about 18% and be any autos right now, and what we're doing, and this is the huge part of what happens in downtown, because it is so vibrant, and we're really trying to make sure that it's safe. We utilize a lot of the technology. So we are utilizing the green light the Project Green Light videos, as well as LPRs. And these help us, because we usually deal with crews. They're doing all the be any autos. So they'll actually drive in a vehicle stop, and then they'll go ahead and break it to a vehicle. And they'll continue to do this during certain events. So if we don't catch them by the personnel who are on ground doing surveillance. We rely on everyone in our real time crime center to do that surveillance as well. We've additionally increased patrols around the Grand Park, the Grand Circus Park area that was an area that initially was not very well lit, and of all the areas in downtown, that was one of the major concerns that was rising. So we started to do a number of patrols in our area. We started to increase the lighting in our area to try to make it a safer space. And to this point, we have, we have actually succeeded in that.
The last two months, the third precinct and downtown services, for downtown services reasons, they've executed a number of search warrants related to be any autos. They've gotten a number of arrests, and they recover a number of weapons. And I could give those specific numbers at a later date to the board, but that will be the brief presentation I can do for downtown services, and any of your questions I can answer anything we have for this commissioner
just quickly. As you know, we recently approved the purchase of drones that allegedly supposed to be used in downtown Detroit, with respect to crowds, etc, I would like to know, and perhaps my colleagues would like to know as well, when we use those drones, like, if we use them three times this week or 10 times whatever it is we did, so that one the community will not be concerned or frightened like they are in New Jersey, where they're like 4050, drones, as large as cars floating in the air. And so our community will will not feel intimidated or unsafe. So if you would let us know each every week, when you come before us, how many times we were using the drones. The second thing is that you you mentioned black bottom, but black bottom is really not as you know, in Randolph Park, it really is on the east side, right there at I 75 where the freeway cut through. The closest thing that we have currently to black bottom is, Burt Dearing whole block there, where he has made an incredible Memorial enshrined to black Americans who were successful businessmen and performers within our community. So to the extent that the shooting after a Lions game. I think it was after the game. I don't know if it was before. I think it was after in in over there, where the sheds are, and so forth at Eastern Market, has totally devastated business in that community, black, white, Chinese, all kinds of businesses, people aren't coming there anymore, and a lot of it, as you know, was because of this huge police presence, which I'm not sure you're a police officer. I'm not, but certainly one shooting, as the chief says, all the time, is too many. But to shut down all the business, and all the activity at Eastern Market for those businesses over there has been devastating for them. So if you wouldn't mind to ask the chief to look into that, to see what we can do to save without feeling that Big Brother is present, you know, all the time. So we can go back to the way things always have been at Eastern Market, friendly, family, community, vendors and people, just us. You know, everybody around. If you don't mind through
the chair, 100% we'll take that to the chief. This is first I've heard the businesses were
so there's no business over there. Now go over there. Sunday, I know
for the tailgates where we have the lions games come in, we do have an increased patrols that do take place. And again, those patrols don't take place just because of the shooting that occurred. They also take place to make sure that we do decrease the larcens, because we have a lot of vehicles that are unattended and they are parked in spaces that are not actually legal parking spaces, we have changed how we've talked with Eastern Market, with how they allow people to come in to to get those rent those spaces, but we're 100% talk with The businesses, and we'll make sure we have a good synergy to make sure we're not affecting their business. There's nobody here. That's not what we want to do.
I know I don't need it, and I hate the same thing that's happened, as you know, with with respect to Greektown, it used to be really a hot spot, a great spot, and now there's, like, almost nobody there. Sometimes we can push too hard, and we make people not come. That's not my
through the Chair. I just want to make sure, because we're going to do two things. Number one is we'll talk with the businesses, right? The one thing I can say is that we have really good communication with all the business on the Greek town corridor. I mean, very good communication, and that hasn't come out to us, but we'll double check to make sure that that's not the case, and we'll see what we can do. Our primary focus is to just make sure that the area is safe. We're not trying to chase people away just we just want to make sure that when people come down, they can be safe in the area. For Eastern Market again, I'll we'll have to do a follow up on that and talk with some merchants and areas appreciate it, and 100% we'll do that commission. Anything further?
There been nothing further we go to Oral Communications.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have seven speakers. The first speaker will be Minister blunt after Minister blunt, Victoria Camille, and then we'll go on to zoom. Good
afternoon board Good afternoon as a member of the coalition for police transparency and accountability, I'd like to read our official statement. Kim worthy's decision was wrong. We strongly object to the decision by the Wayne County Prosecutor Kim worthy not to charge the bailiff who shot and killed Sherman Lee Butler on December 3, nearly six months after the killing. This is worthy, asserts that the 36th district court bailiff acted in lawful self defense and the defense of others. The fact of this case has been contested since the moment police were dispatched to assist the bailiff in the course of the eviction of Mr. Butler from his home, multiple scenarios have been offered by the police. Prosecutor worthy own statements accompanied her decision to not to prosecute raise more questions than answers, specifically, she does not address the effects taken. She does not address the efforts taken to de escalate the situation. Does not explain the decision to use tasers. Does not explain why officers could not wait for the Crisis Intervention Team, which was obviously this was obviously a mental health situation. What was the rush to kill further the Detroit Police Department and the prosecutor's office has refused to make the body worn cameras take images taken during the crisis available to the public. In light of this decision, we make the following demands the City Council adopt the Sherman Lee Butler ordinance requiring all body worn camera images captured capturing use of force when police are involved, be made public within 24 hours, the Detroit Police Department and the board of police commissioners immediate release all body worn camera images. Okay, time.
Thank you to the chair. Yes, sir, we talked about last week that we will be getting the video on Sherman Lee Butler, which is so much needed for this body here. How is that coming? Mister Chair, that video with Sherman Lee Butler, we talked about that last week,
Madam Secretary, I think you sent out an email concerning that.
The email was received shortly before this meeting, and it has not been forwarded out yet. You do have a copy chairman, but it will be forthcoming. So, so you get that tonight, we will be coordinating that.
All right, thank you, Mr. Chair, yeah,
just for clarity through the chair. What will be forthcoming
I received from the department today shortly before this meeting to coordinate a briefing from the department, and so I will be sending that immediately to all commissioners to coordinate with me when you're available for the briefing. Okay, thank you. Okay. All right, thank you. All
right. Um, Miss conneal,
good evening. Commissioners, good evening. I'd like to yield my time to minister Eric Blount so he can finish the CPTA statement so it can be read into the record Absolutely. Thank you.
I'll continue on from our demands. In light of this decision, we make the following demands the Detroit City Council adopt the Sherman Lee Butler ordinance requiring all body worn camera images capturing the use of force when police are involved to be made public within 24 hours second, the Detroit Police Department and the board of police commissioners immediately release all body worn camera images related to this case with Sherman Lee Butler. Third, the board of police commissioners adopt the policy directing the Detroit Police Department to post all body worn camera images involving officers and the use of force on the website within 24 hours of the incident. Fourth, that the Detroit City Council and the 36th district court prohibit all bailiffs from carrying firearms during the course of an eviction. And lastly, that the 36th district court require all eviction proceedings to be accompanied by a mental health professional, and that the first person in contact with individuals be an effort to secure resources so that individuals may remain in their homes. We offer our support to the family and friends and the spirit of Sherman Lee Butler, and to their continued effort to secure justice. Respectfully submitted. And in this time in which another person being evicted was murdered, well was killed, we think this is timely, and we demand direct action. Thank you.
Alright, this time, yeah, yeah, according to you're the time keeper, but I use some time. Come on. Come on.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that. Yes, there was one additional line on that statement. Um, the CPTA was offering an additional resolution for the tenants if remaining in their homes is found to be impossible. The next effort shall be to compassionately and supportively transition the person to safe and secure alternative housing by coordinating with family, friends and public housing resources as needed. Thank you for the grace
Absolutely. Next,
Mr. Chair, we're going to go into zoom. Our first speaker will be Mr. Ru, after Mr. Rule, it would be Rob K, and after Mr. K, it would be Tara Brown. Please state your name for the record.
You may be heard. Hey, Darryl Brown.
Darryl woods, correction, Charmaine McLeod did it and in the DAPA condition, Coleman DPD case, two, zero, dash, 11112, Charmaine McLeod, that information has been gleaned from investigating and looking at all the evidence. I don't know why homicide decided to do what they did, but Charmaine was dropped off at her job at the McDonald's by her grandmother. Her grandmother lives approximately seven to 10 minutes away from the house. Before her grandmother got back to the house, she got a call from Charmaine to come pick her up because Kenisha has shot herself. So there's one major, major problem. It should be an incoming phone call or text to Charmaine phone from an individual that the Detroit Police department didn't identify, but the Michigan State Police Department did, and she saw she she said she saw it on Live, Facebook Live Now there should be an incoming phone call coming to Charmaine McLeod's phone from this individual telling her and appraising her before Charmaine called her grandmother to come pick her up From work that Kenisha had shot herself. That is probably what breaks the case over. But there's very substantial evidence to indicate who the shooter was. And just to say, say it without you know any of you guys deal with you on BS.
Next caller,
the city of Detroit has 32 police officers who are not licensed currently, with regards to M calls certification, and I'd like, and also the citizens of Detroit should demand the release of all these names, because the Prosecutor's Office gives us a Giglio list of those officers who have been charged of corruption or false statements or abuse of power in office, and we should demand immediately that the city of Detroit releases those names, because if the officers aren't certified, then they should They will not be covered under governmental immunity and color of law, which means if they're sued, that will be more liability to the Detroit Police Department. Is there anything that the board will do in the near future, or the chief will do with relation to releasing those names? That is a question
commander Paris.
At this time, the names have been provided to the prosecutor's office, and they, of course, have been shared with the mission Commission on Law Enforcement standards. These names would be made available through the FOIA process. However, they will not be just voluntarily posted at this time. We are still working through issues on that matter, but we intend on having the result very soon.
Alright, can you give a brief update as as to where we at right now?
Absolutely, Mr. Chairman, so the department is working with M calls. There are daily correspondence going back and forth every day to make sure that M calls has everything that they need to conduct, the review that they need to get these officers returned to duty. We anticipate in the near future that all officers will be returned to duty. I know of at least two that have been whose licenses have been fully restored. We're just working through paperwork at this point in time, but I have no reason to believe that anybody will be denied certification or licensure, and while their licensure status is not fully restored at this time, they will be served in administrative capacities and return to duty
through the Chair. Yes, is the expectation that this is something that will be resolved by the end of the year or by the end of January.
We are hopeful that we will get this resolved by the end of the year. Again, we are at the mercy of m cos review. When I say at the mercy, I'm not suggesting that they're moving slow. I'm just saying that they have a very deliberate process of review that must take place, so if not by the end of the year, I'm hopeful by the end of January. And I just want to emphasize right now all that we're working on right now, paperwork and documentation. These officers have been fully trained. Their training was never at issue, their process was never at issue, but for paperwork that was not properly reviewed. Thank you.
Their training might not be at issue, but their certification is at issue, yes, and why? Why would why should a citizen have to go through a FOIA, if this is already made public information, the board of police commissioners should be concerned, and they should have the names of these officers, which they can then release to the public. Why do I have to start a FOIA or start a lawsuit if this information isn't made public in order to receive this information? Do I have to do that?
Mr. Chairman, would you like me to
respond? Yes, you can respond. The FOIA
process is there for a reason, and that is the process by which we release information.
Okay, there's, there's how many commissioners there today, I'd like to ask those commissioners to ask the DPD to release those names to them. Excuse
me, your time is up. My
time isn't up. I have 17 more seconds, and I'm paying for this microphone. I'm paying for this microphone.
What is going on with the time
I have my time I'm paying for this microphone. I asked the question,
stop and people, your time
is up. I'm glad you're
laughing. I'll laugh at you at election time, Mister
Chairman, can I say one more thing? Yes. This is in response to Commissioner, you had mentioned concern over microphone mass deport. Sorry, Commissioner, you had mentioned concern over mass deportation. I just want to inform you this statement was released to the media, and I believe it speaks to the department's position on it. This is a DVD statement that was released within the last few days. The DVD will remain focused on public safety issues impacting its residents and the enforcement of state and local laws. While the DVD looks forward to continued collaboration with its federal partners, our priority is to serve those who make up our unique community with empathy regardless of their immigration status. Our values as an agency leave no room for the enforcement of laws related to undocumented individuals who have otherwise committed no crime
through the Chair. Thank you for reading that statement. I appreciate it through the
Chair. Yes, sir. So I guess I have more of a constitutional question. Maybe you can answer it, command, Commander power does a president have with local law enforcement in these type of situations?
I can say that there are laws prohibiting the national government from essentially commandeering the resources of local governments. So
no resources, no financial resources, no human resources, can be utilized in that manner
where they can hold the federal government cannot force us to do anything at this local level, and I'm not aware of any grants or monies that are somehow tied to our willingness to enforce immigration laws, and I wouldn't even imagine that we would accept grants or money if that was a condition of the grant. Thank
you. Yes, I just want to respond briefly, federal law supersedes state law and municipal law period throughout the United States of America, in every state. Furthermore, a big chunk, as you know, commander of our budget is federal grants for law enforcement activities. This we are, we are intricately intertwined with each other. I do not, I do not think I I've watched all the commentary in California and everywhere else that that they have a scintilla of the ability to be successful in terms of ignoring federal law period. And I'm and my Masters of Law from the University of Pennsylvania is in constitutional law.
I, I agree that we do receive funding from the federal government. However, I'm not aware of any of that funding being tied to our willingness to enforce immigration laws. You'll never
get it. You'll never get All right, thank you. Well, thank you, Commander. I don't know it don't look like you have a federal uniform on. Look like you got the Detroit Police uniform on, which is a local municipality, you know. So I don't want to put the wrong message out there that you know. I appreciate your answer. Appreciate your commentary. Um, let's go to the next caller, Mister
Chair. Our next speaker will be Miss Tara Brown, Mister Ronald Foster, and after mister Foster, former Commissioner William Davis, and that would be the mister and Mister, Mister Smith, and that would be the end of public comments, sir.
Yep, you may be heard. Good
evening commission. I want to echo what the previous caller said about the list being made available. Yes, there is a process called FOIA, but what I'm noticing with the city of Detroit, even with the Sherman Butler issue, the FOIA process, just like United Health Care's insurance process is meant to delay and deny. We wait and we wait and we wait and we finally get a denial in the mail. Um, the other thing I wanted to bring up is with regard to the Sherman Butler issue. I also want to echo what Victoria and minister Blount said their comments. But I also wanted to ask, is the commission planning on doing some sort of investigation, because after I read Kim worthy statement, paragraph two says, and again, we were repeatedly told, as the public, that the bailiff was not acting on behalf of the Detroit Police, and he was not no longer a police officer in any capacity. However, in the very statement can where the issue in the second paragraph, it says the decision was made by Officer number one and the bailiff to go into the bedroom and tase mister Butler to get him to drop it, drop it, and it being the alleged weapon that he had. How is the bailiff whose job is there to move furniture, helping the Detroit Police make a decision about going back into Sherman Butler's apartment to tase him he was acting as a police officer, fired, retired, forced to resign, whatever his circumstance was in that capacity, her statement basically says he was acting as a Detroit police officer. What else I would like to know is, Why does an armed Detroit police officer need the assistance of a court bailiff when it was two officers present? This story makes no sense, and as Minister Blount said before, it's causing more questions than it is answers. And if this was the stance Ken worthy was going to take, we should have heard that in July and not in December. Thank you.
Thank you. I would say that that we stand in support of many of the commissioners. I could say, stand in support of the release of that that video, and we anticipate that the chief will release that video, as he stated before. And so you have no argument out of us that that video should be released next caller,
good evening. Name is Mister foster here just a few things I want to talk about just real brief you on the freedom of information that the city has paid out a few $100,000 in civil rights violations for failing to disclose Freedom of Information. Act that has to stop. We need our elected leaders to have guts go to Corporate Council and do what needs to be done to make sure that the the community is safe. Secondly, duty to turn over all names on that list is required by law. The city has a duty to turn over every one of those officers named to defense councils without exceptions. It's the law. Third thing, I have a real issue with perspectives, the things we say on the news, one of the things now, I don't advocate a lot for everybody, but I found it disgusting that the city and department would throw DC Hayes under the bus as much as he come to yours rescue and stood in front of this city to clean up message for this department. I think it's very disgusting the way you guys behave and do that from the top leadership of the police department. And so since you guys decided to do that investigation as a member of the public, I'm asking you all to release the dispatch recordings from the sheriff that came into our City Year, and we want to know who gave permission for him to come over here and under color of law and do any type of enforcement in Wayne County, anytime any officer crossed any lines, he had to call on dispatch or make it a public record. We want to hear that public record who gave him permission to come over to this county to enforce any laws, and so that's that's where I'm at with it. Now White sheriff is not called a liar on TV for political purposes. We will not disrespect our black community.
Next caller,
hello, everyone. William M Davis, how are y'all doing today? I would like to start off by saying I know most of y'all, mainly know me as being president of the church chapter National Action Network, but I'm also president of a much larger local group called Detroit active retired employee association that we went through a bankrupt and had our pension cut. You know, there's 1000s of city Detroit retirees in this city, and I'm wondering, if the 32 officers do not have M co certification, why are we paying them? Why are they still being paid? You know, I would think that they should not be paid as long as they not certified. I would think, also, that is a problem, you know, that could be a major problem for the city, financially. Also, I would think, even if it's not being released to the public that this board of police commissioners should have a list of those names, even if they have to sign something saying that.
Nation act as relates to the Detroit Police Department is very questionable. I myself, I filed something over two years ago, and I never heard back. You know? I think that this whole process,
you know, I could almost see the federal government investigating
this once this new administration come in. Thank you. Thank you. Can you speak to the issue of pay? Yes, Mr. Chairman, the reason why these officers are still on the payroll is because they are employees of the Detroit Police Department. They are working every day that they are required to come to work. And this was an administrative oversight. This wasn't an officer that lost a certification due to misconduct. This was a error in the part of training office, the recruiting office and goals. So we cannot hold this against the officers. And if I could just speak something I spoke to earlier on, why the FOIA process is important. We have legal obligations to our employees before we they release before we release their names, there is the Bullard key Act, which requires certain notices to go out, because we have to put our employees on notice If we're going to release their names or details regarding their career. So if we were just to immediately post it, we could find ourselves in legal Jeopardy. So there's process in
place for information to be released. Anyone interested in obtaining that information has to go through that process, because we're talking about employees rights, yep, and as being equally fair as you was able to share it with
the prosecutor office, if a defense borrower attorney Association, you would share with them as well, right? We share it with the prosecutor's office, and any prosecutor bringing a case is obligated to share any information that could be exonerating in any respect to defense counsel.
So we provided to the prosecutor's office. We've met our burden.
The prosecutor would certainly share the information if requested. All
right, thank you. All right. Any
more calls? One more person, sir. Mr. Smith, thank you so much. Good afternoon. May be hurt. Yes, sir. Dean Smith, for the record, um, I have a few things to say. Um, I want to start off by saying detective Anderson at the seventh precinct, you need a little bit of retraining. And also, I just want to say, excuse my friends, but you can't with me. Also, I want to say what I want to say, don't stop my time. Pause my time if you don't stop me. I want my time anyway, like I was gonna say I'm disappointed about the charming Lee Butler video, that should not have to be for you. Also, I want to say if I was in the vehicle with Jameson Williams and I had my CPL, or if I was in the passenger seat, I didn't have my CPL, my driver had the CPL. If you arrested me, I'll suit the socks off this M and F in city, there is no way you can arrest a person with in the vehicle Cpl. Also, I want to say, Michigan, to my knowledge, is not a Stand Your Ground law. State. It does not stand your ground. There have been many people arrested for standing their ground. Also, I want to say there seems to be a problem with retired sergeants like the retired Sergeant, that's the head of the lions organization, head of lion security, who called Deputy Chief Hayes, which is a problem. Also, the retired Sergeant who just shot and killed a man doing an eviction on his own. How do you enforce the law? And you are doing it incorrectly, and you should know the law seems to be a problem, and retired officers seem seem to think they have way too much power, as in, certainly, Butler's case as well. Seems like we have an issue with this. Also, I want to say, um, it just seems like we have an issue across the board that is causing the city a lot of money, and the city seems to be hiding behind FOIA, specifically the police department, which is a problem. You can hide behind the FOIA all you want, but accountability is something that's going to be transparent, regardless of whether you want to hide it or not. We are going to get answers, we're going to ask questions. We're going to ask the right questions. Also, if you try to take my time, it's always going
to be bad problem for you. Never try to
take my time. I understand the the trickery of trying to stop a person while they're talking, but that's never going to happen with me. Um, I hope it. I don't know what kind of problem it's going to be, you know, but you know, those type of words are very threatening words. And using profanity when children is listening, and you have the elderly in here is very inappropriate, and it's it's not acceptable, you know, so, and I'm not afraid of anything or anyone, you know. But the fact of the matter is, is that that's not the way that we conduct ourselves as citizens, and we expect better from folks when they come here, not to use vulgarity and not to be using threatening language,
you know. So let's go to the
next thing on the agenda. Let's go the board secretary report. We have this evening, the Office of Chief investigators, weekly inventory report for December 12, December I'm sorry, December 1 through December 6. We also have commissioners. You have informational items in your binders on the left flap, and the announcements of upcoming meetings are as follows, the next board meeting is next. Thursday, December 19, 3pm at Detroit Public Safety headquarters, and our next community meeting will be held. Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 6:30pm it will be a community meeting, and the location will be determined forth with and we'll be able hopefully to announce next meeting on the 19th. And that concludes the report, sir, thank you. Oh, I'm sorry, the next committee meeting policy will meet again on Tuesday this coming, Tuesday,
December 17, at 5pm at Detroit Public Safety headquarters and the Woodward
room. Thank you. Thank
you. Let's go to unfinished business, the budget report committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair, by direction of the Budget Committee, I move adoption of the following motion that the Board of police commissioners approve the 2025
2026 fiscal budget draft and refer it to the city of Detroit budget department,
moved by Commissioner the wash second by Commissioner Hernandez, point
of order, this is out of committee, correct? Oh, he's out of committee. So it should be moved by the budget committee by and no second is necessary, okay? Thank you. By direction of the
Budget Committee. Discussion, any discussion? Yes, Mister Chairman, yes, sir. So I'm reading the actual report, and I see an increase in there. Is that something that we need to vote on, or is that something that we can just bypass
and accept the report? If we accept the report, we that's inclusive. That's inclusive. Okay, I understand. Yep, yep, if there being no objections, the report be approved and accepted. All right, all right, let's go. Thank you, Mr.
Chair. Thank you,
madam chair woman. Let's go to new business, the policy committee. Mr. Chairman, by direction of the policy committee, I move adoption of the following policy committee report, which was generated as a result of a meeting held on December 10, 2014 at police headquarters. The Attendees included myself as chair, Commissioner Eva de wash and yourself, Commissioner woods. The community committee Attendees included the board secretary, Lydia Garnier, Jasmine Taylor, administrative assistant, Felicia Tyson Bo PC Policy Manager and Deputy Chief Michael parish from professional development, from the Professional Development Division. He got a promotion. He's no longer Chief of Staff, right? He got a promotion. The report from the policy manager, Felicia Tyson, was as follows. She presented key updates on the bowl of wrap policy, the thing that wraps around a person, freezes them, highlighting the inclusion of clear guidelines and enhanced focus on de escalation, mandatory medical attention protocols after you've been wrapped up by the bowl of wrap, comprehensive documentation requirements on why it was used and the use of body worn cameras during the process. Additionally, she informed the group that the policy committee will be reviewing the following topics at the upcoming meeting this coming Tuesday, regarding the pepper ball launcher and training and the body worn camera policy for the city of Detroit police officers the three Oh, the policy for bowler app, the identification number is three Oh, 4.8 the proposed amendments To the proposed policy. Policy by Felicia Tyson, Policy Manager and post graduate fellow attorney Molly morning words were adopted as written. We Commissioner Bernard the Washington Woods voted to advance the bolo rap policy out of committee to the full board for review and approval with with the amendments as stated within the policy the next policy committee meeting, as I said, is next Tuesday, December 17, and our motion
is, of course, my
direction of the policy committee. I move adoption of the report and of the bullet wrap policy support. So by direction of the policy committee, it's been moved to accept the report and was supported by Commissioner de Walsh any discussion.
If there's no objections, it is carried. We disapprove. I just want to say, Mr. Chair, I want to thank the members of the committee. We really made some substantive changes in enhancing both civil rights issues, medical attention issues, and most importantly, ladies and gentlemen, we're
going to review this policy in two years to see if it's really cost effective or if it's something we should continue. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, absolutely, and I appreciate the policy manager, as well as the department on the direction of Commander parish and their team who are looking at every policy and DPD and the community, feel free to chime in in these meetings, bring your suggestions and things of that nature is open to the public, but we're going to go through the entire manual, DP DPD manual, so that everything get can get updated and that we will have world class policies that help protect citizens of the city of Detroit. So I think the policy manager Miss Tyson commander parish and his team and look forward to seeing on a world class policy manual after this is all said and done, and I absolutely want to take my hat off to Commissioner Bernard for her steadfastness in terms of making sure that these meetings are rolling like they supposed to roll on on a consistent basis and but we're going to wrap It Up. Wrap It Up more so thank you. Having said that, what is the pleasure of the board? We'll adjourn. It. A motion to adjourn, made by Commissioner Bernard, second, second, by Commissioner banks.
Any discussion? All in favor? Say, aye. Anyone opposed, the motion is carried. This meeting is adjourned. You. Ned recording stopped.
