Board of Police Commissioners

Detroit Board of Police Commissioners

Criminal Justice

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024
6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. EST

View meeting details

Add to iCal

Add to Google Calendar

Location unavailable

Join meeting on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81981390642

To attend in person: Adams-Butzel Recreation Center, 10500 Lyndon Street.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Shiva Shahmir

The BOPC welcomed Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison. Public commenters complained about police harassment. One such commenter learned that his street vending license allows him to sell everywhere in Detroit, except for downtown.

View notes

Live reporting by Alex Klaus

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex

Good evening! Today at 6:30 pm I’ll live-tweet the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners community meeting for #DETdocumenters. @DetDocumenters @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @Michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit

05:24 PM Nov 14, 2024 CST

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 2/44

Documenters coverage: detroit.documenters.org/assignments/bo… City website: detroitmi.gov/events/board-p…

detroit.documenters.org/assignments/bo… detroitmi.gov/events/board-p…

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 3/44

Today’s agenda:

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 4/44

Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 5/44

There is a virtual ASL translator

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 6/44

Commissioner Darryl Woods said there isn’t a quorum so the board secretary is giving her report.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 7/44

Because there is no quorum, the board is going right to public comment.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 8/44

1. Russel Woods resident said someone in her neighborhood with a severe mental illness was having a crisis. She called 911 and said officers were helpful and took him to the hospital. She suggests residents fill out the “Protect your crown” survey: detroitmi.gov/departments/de…

detroitmi.gov/departments/de…

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 9/44

2. Resident said DPD officers harassed him. He said they reached in his vehicle, told them to get out of the car, didn’t ask for ID or anything. He wants to get an investigation.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 10/44

Commissioner Woods said he can fill out a complaint with a staff member at the meeting. The commenter said he’s making more than a complaint—he’s trying to advocate for something. Woods said the BOPC only takes citizen complaints.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 11/44

3. Frequent commenter emotionally talks about the death of Kaniesha Coleman. Commissioner Tamara Liberty Smith said she is taking care of it. wdet.org/2021/12/23/a-g…

wdet.org/2021/12/23/a-g…

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 12/44

4. Says the community needs accountability and transparency regarding Sherman Lee Butler’s death, when a bailiff and former DPD officer shot and killed Butler during an eviction earlier this year.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 13/44

We have a quorum now at 6:45, doing roll call now.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 14/44

Commissioner Ricardo Moore is motioning to amend the agenda, but to add five certificates.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 15/44

Frieda Butler, the president of the second precinct community relations council, is welcoming recently promoted Commander Anthony O’Rourke.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 16/44

Commissioner Linda Bernard is welcoming the new chief of police Todd Bettison. Bettison is replacing James White, who was recently selected as CEO of the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. freep.com/story/news/loc…

freep.com/story/news/loc…

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 17/44

Commissioner Smith is at the podium is talking about the department Trunk or Treat, praising a few police officers and giving them certificates.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 18/44

Commissioner Bernard is presenting a resolution honoring Renaissance High School, located in the second district

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 19/44

Now Bernard is presenting a resolution to the Renaissance High School principal, Verynda Stroughter.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 20/44

Bernard is presenting another resolution, this time to the School at Marygrove.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 21/44

And a resolution honoring School at Marygrove principal Lisa Williams

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 22/44

Moving on to the chief of police report now

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 23/44

Bettison made comments expressing his appreciation for the BOPC, Frieda Butler, and others who support the police department. He looks forward to working with the board.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 24/44

The 2nd precinct commander is giving his report. He said the city is seeing “historic” crime reduction numbers, including a drop in non fatal shootings. He said the precinct leads the city in non-fatal shooting closure rate.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 25/44

Commissioner Pressley said two categories often appearing on citizen complaints include procedure (not wearing body worn cameras) and demeanor with residents (using profanity, casual and unprofessional, calling them “guy” or “boy”, etc.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 26/44

The 2nd precinct chief said the precinct has high compliancy with body cameras, and tells his officers to be professional.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 27/44

We’re going back to public comment. 1. Says we need to find ways to not criminalize mental illness, and have more mental health support that keeps people out of the legal system

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 28/44

2. Former Commissioner William Davis said his nephew was harassed, stopped, and was told to get out of the car for no expressed reason. Commissioner Moore said he needs to file a complaint, otherwise it’s just “gossip.”

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 29/44

Commissioner Woods is further insisting Davis makes a complaint.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 30/44

3. Community activist says shes being stalked, because she’s trying to get her mom’s inheritance. She said the police took her daughter two years ago, she said she’s filed complaints with the police department.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 31/44

4. Frieda Butler is concerned about how the incoming Trump administration will impact the DPD.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 32/44

5. Said he has a license to sell novelty items in the city during events and festivals, and the police have harassed him telling him he can’t sell things downtown. The police will ask him and his wife for their money and threaten to arrest them if they don’t give it.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 33/44

Chief Bettison said there’s an ordinance that prohibits people with street vendor licenses from selling things downtown.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 34/44

Bettison also said he worries some of his products are counterfeit and they are investigating that. He also said the money they took was placed on evidence. The commenter said nothing on his license says he cant sell downtown.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 35/44

Commissioner Moore asked to get a follow up on this issue. Bettison clarified that downtown is considered the central business district.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 36/44

The commenter is continuing to express that he’s upset that the license doesn’t allow him to sell things downtown. Bernard asked why the commenter’s wife was crying. He said she was crying because the police were threatening to arrest her.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 37/44

Commissioner Woods said he should take it up with city council.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 38/44

6. Said congratulations to chief Bettison. He also said organizers want to see more transparency with project green light recordings and body camera footage.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 39/44

Public comment has ended. Woods motioned to postpone a request for the board to receive legal advice concerning employee evaluation. Approved.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 40/44

The BOPC is searching for a recruiting firm to find a permanent chief (Bettison is interim chief) and the special personnel and training committee made a recommendation to hire TJ staffing.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 41/44

On behalf of the policy committee, Commissioner Bernard said the department wants to get more Bola wraps freep.com/story/news/loc…

freep.com/story/news/loc…

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 42/44

Meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 43/44

IMPORTANT: If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line.

Alex Klaus 🌈⭐️ @mostlikelyalex 44/44

For more coverage, please visit ! detroit.documenters.org

detroit.documenters.org

View thread

Agency Information

Detroit Board of Police Commissioners

www.detroitmi.gov

(313) 596-1830

bopc@detroitmi.gov

See Documenters reporting

The Board of Police Commissioners has supervisory control and oversight of the Police Department, including plenary authority over citizen complaints and the power to appoint fact finders, subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, and require the production of evidence. The Board also appoints a civilian as Director of Police Personnel and approves all promotions made by the Chief. The 11 member board is comprised of 7 elected members from each city council district and 4 members appointed by the Mayor. https://detroitmi.gov/government/boards/board-police-commissioners