Note-taking by
Shiva Shahmir
The board hired Dorian Tyus as executive manager of policy, updated policies regarding facial recognition and police lineups, and removed from the payroll suspended Lt. Brandon Cole — caught on camera telling a protester to “Go back to Mexico.”
Live reporting by
Nathaniel Eichenhorn
The board hired Dorian Tyus as executive manager of policy, updated policies regarding facial recognition and police lineups, and removed from the payroll suspended Lt. Brandon Cole — caught on camera telling a protester to “Go back to Mexico.”
01:31 PM May 30, 2024 CDT
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
3/68
The board does not have a quorum yet, so they are beginning with the invocation
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
4/68
Acting secretary Brown is going to deliver announcements. These can be found in the agenda
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
6/68
As they still do not have a quorum, in the interest of time, they are continuing to public comment
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
7/68
This citizen has complaints about her due process rights and her rights against unreasonable search and seizure
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
8/68
The citizen had concerns about her firearm being confiscated and now the dpd is explaining how one might get a confiscated firearm returned to them
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
9/68
Commissioner burden objected to the minutes but being unable to point out his exact objection, his objection was not heard, he subsequently voted no to accepting the minutes
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
10/68
Now we're moving on to the Board of Police Commissioner's officers report
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
11/68
The chair just let everybody know that there's going to be several closed sessions during this meeting, so you all should be ready for that as well
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
12/68
Part one violent crime is down 11% across the board compared to this time last year
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
13/68
The police department is currently focusing on cracking down on drag racing and illegal block parties. The board is being told that these parties can be very large and are sometimes leading to violence
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
14/68
The board is also hearing how there has been a rise in mental health related calls and officers responding to suicide threats or attempts.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
15/68
Commissioner Hernandez has a question about the circumstances of a automobile collision that injured a police officer. The answer is not presently available
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
16/68
Commissioner Hernandez has a further question about underage ATV drivers.
Answer: there's a bounty on illegal ATVs and they plan to hold the parents accountable
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
17/68
Commissioner Bernard had a question about an officer-involved shooting. Commissioner Bernard is concerned about reports that a suspect was fleeing and subsequently shot in the back
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
18/68
Commissioner Woods is reminding the board that they are not there to praise the Detroit Police Department, and want to emphasize that that is not the purpose of this board
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
19/68
Commissioner Burton just characterized the police response to a protest in encampment at Wayne State as "violently suppressed" and asked why. The deputy chief did not respond
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
20/68
Chairman Pressley asks whether to plan regarding the pop-up block parties is to keep them safe or to disperse them?
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
21/68
Answer: at the moment it's a case-by-case basis , it depends on whether the party in question is unusually loud or disruptive or if there are reports of other nuisances
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
22/68
Furthermore, the deputy chief reports that the police department is working on crafting a block party ordinance that will help regulate and standardize block party requirements
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
23/68
Commissioner Bernard has a question about the status of the Detroit Detention Center.
Answer: I do not have a timeline and it is not the business of police department to hold prisoners. The commission should ask the sheriff's office or other relevant agencies
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
24/68
Chairperson Pressley made an announcement that in regards to complaints against the police department, it is proving exceedingly difficult to get the complainants responder cooperate with investigations. And therefore many of the cases are labeled as "inconclusive "and shelved
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
25/68
He apologizes for putting the burden on the citizens but he emphasizes there is no other way to conduct an investigation but to speak to witnesses
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
26/68
The report having ended, the board now moves on to finish public comment
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
27/68
A public commenter voiced her frustration at the handling of her son's murder case. She says that she has been ignored by the police and that she is unable to get updates on the status of the case
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
28/68
Deputy chief Hayes responded that he was informed that she had already received a phone call from an officer, however, there is a new homicide Chief and DC Hayes said that he will personally attend to the matter
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
29/68
Chairperson Presley asked DC Hayes when the board can expect a report on that meeting. DC Hayes responded that they can expect it immediately after the meeting takes place
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
30/68
Pressley intimated that the deputy chief was attempting to duck the question and asked for a specific time. The deputy chief responded with 2 weeks
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
31/68
Commissioner Woods said that he is aware of the case and that he is pleased with the conduct of the department
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
32/68
So Burton just said the woman's case is important and that she has rights etc. Woods responded that he is troubled by the idea of people exploiting this woman's terrible tragedy and using it to work on people's feelings. It seems to me that that was a snipe at Burton
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
33/68
This public commenter is upset at the way. Commissioner Burton has been speaking to others, especially Commissioner Smith, especially when Smith is chairing the meeting. She emphasizes that as a woman raised by a woman, she believes that Commissioner Smith is owed more respect.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
34/68
Commissioner burden has a lot to say hold on
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
36/68
Commissioner Burton started by saying that all the citizens should be given more time and he feels that some are being unfairly favored
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
37/68
He continued by admonishing the commenter and accused her of assaulting him with her cane (The commenter in question is a woman in her '90s)
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
38/68
Chairperson Pressley interrupted, saying that these outbursts are counter to commissioner Burton's stated desires to give citizens more time to comment on their government.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
39/68
This public commenter is saying over Zoom that citizens do, in fact, need more time to comment
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
40/68
The next caller wants to emphasize the importance of trauma-informed policing. Both for the citizenry and for the officers themselves
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
41/68
That's it for public comment and now they're moving on to unfinished business
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
43/68
Commissioner Moore is concerned that he was promised an update in a case relevant to the policy and says he has not received it
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
44/68
Deputy chief said he can get back to the board on that and that this is the first time he's hearing of it
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
45/68
The policy passed in a voice vote
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
46/68
The witness identification policy passed unanimously with no discussion
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
47/68
Moving on to new business with a Special Personnel and Training Memorandum
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
48/68
They're going to vote to hire a new candidate for a executive position
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
49/68
Commissioner burden is concerned that the board was not given three choices, as he recalls happening in the past, and rather is only being presented with one candidate to be hired at once
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
51/68
Pressley and Hernandez both responded, they're not happy with Burton. Pressley says Burton should stop maligning his colleagues and constantly suggesting that their actions and decisions are malicious and cunning, rather than straightforward and honest
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
52/68
Smith joined in, saying that the Committee in charge has worked tirelessly and with self-sacrifice to make this hire happen. Bernard joined in and said basically the same thing
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
53/68
Burton's coming out swinging, saying in essence that some members are uneducated and some are appointees.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
54/68
Burton says that the board keeps settling lawsuits and wants more transparency and *lightly* implies nepotism is somehow involved
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
55/68
Motion passed, everyone votes yes but Commissioner Burton
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
56/68
Now onto the Citizen Complaints Committee Memo
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
57/68
The board is now entering into closed session. I'll let you know when they come back out. They're going to be talking about giving administrative leave without pay but with medical benefits to a police officer
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
60/68
I think they're muted and don't know it
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
61/68
They just unmuted in the middle of the roll
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
62/68
It was passed, and Comm'r Bernard is now voicing concerns about the officers family and urges the board to forbear until they can investigate further
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
63/68
Comm'r Bell responded to Comm'r Burton that the personal family circumstances of the officer is not relevant to the body's purpose, and that if that were a valid reason to not act, no one would ever be punished as "we all... have families"
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
64/68
The motion was brought to a vote. The roll follows:
Presley yes
Bernard no
Bell yes
Hernandez yes
Smith yes
More yes
Woods yes
The motion passed
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
65/68
They've gone back into closed session. I'll let you know when they're out
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
66/68
There out. Audio cut in suddenly during roll again but they have a quorum and the meeting has been called to order again
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
67/68
Comm'r Bernard is objecting to the motion
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
68/68
The roll was as follows:
Presley yes
Bernard no
Bell yes
Hernandez yes
Smith no
Burton yes
More yes
Woods yes.
The motion passes.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
