Board of Police Commissioners

Join this meeting online, by phone or in person: https://detroitmi.gov/events/board-police-commissioners-meeting-october-6-2022

We’ll have notes, archived materials and more: https://detroit.documenters.org/assignments/board-of-police-commissioners-4643/

📎 Agenda: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/Agenda%20October%206%2C%202022_0.pdf https://t.co/gkw0oVWHsL

🏃 Need to catch up on the BOPC? See our past reporting: https://detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=17

Paige Rollins took notes on the last meeting we covered…: https://detroit.documenters.org/assignments/board-of-police-commissioners-4601/

And I live-tweeted: https://twitter.com/civicDetroitDan/status/1575558294923419648

🗞 For the second time, Detroit City Council delayed voting on a $7 million contract to expand ShotSpotter. Hundreds of residents have commented on the surveillance system, most of them opposing its expansion. @BriRiceWrites reported: https://www.michiganradio.org/public-safety/2022-10-04/detroit-again-delays-the-vote-on-7-million-shotspotter-contract

Detroit police salaries may soon increase. A tentative union contract could raise salaries for new officers by $10,000 and four-year officers by $13,000. If ratified, City Council will decide on the contract. @BryceHuffman313 has more: https://www.bridgedetroit.com/starting-pay-for-detroit-police-officers-to-rise-by-10k-under-tentative-deal/

❓The Board of Police Commissioners oversees the @detroitpolice. They decide DPD’s budget and policies, review complaints, and discipline officers. The commissioners meet weekly. Seven are elected, four are mayor-appointed. https://detroitmi.gov/government/boards/board-police-commissioners

Your Board of Police Commissioners (and the district they represent):

• Bryan Ferguson, chair (1)
• Annie Holt, vice chair (at-large)
• Linda Bernard (2)
• Cedric Banks (3)
• Willie Bell (4)
• Willie Burton (5)
• Lisa Carter (6)
• @RicardoDetroit (7)
…

Your commissioners, continued:
• Jesus Hernandez (at-large)
• Jim Holley (at-large)
• QuanTez Pressley (at-large)

🚩 Need visual descriptions? Reply and I’ll provide them to you.

Something wrong? Email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.” I’ll add corrections at the end.

See you at 3 p.m.! Gotta get myself some lunch…

⌚️ At 3:01 p.m., the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting begins! Chair Ferguson calls the meeting to order. Commander Chaplain Dan Pinson leads the invocation prayer. #DETdocumenters

👤 Roll call! Commissioners Holt, Holley, Pressley, Hernandez, Bernard, Banks, Bell and Moore are present. I didn’t hear anything from Burton or Carter. Melanie White says there is a quorum. https://t.co/yASvUFPWnP

📝 At 3:04 p.m., the board proceeds straight to the Chief of Police Report, skipping over some agenda items.

Past week’s crime report: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/221003%20Weekly%20Stats%20Report_0.pdf

Daily crime report from Tuesday: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/221004%20DPD%20Daily%20Stats_0.pdf https://t.co/uP2WDqvhp4

DPD Chief James White says they’re still dealing with car thefts influenced by social media. He also skips over notable incidents to talk about the police killing of Porter Burks. https://yemeniamerican.com/en/lawsuit-to-be-filed-over-the-officer-involved-shooting-of-porter-burks-in-detroit/ https://t.co/irt3HKDvWD

James White says while the killing was not their desired outcome, he has concluded that the officers involved adhered to crisis intervention and deescalation training. …

“Unfortunately, the police department has become the mental health system, and I never thought I’d see the day when we really have to take a look at building our own mental health database because of the frequency in which we are dealing with these runs.”

James White mentions a mass shooting last month, which also involved a shooter with a history of mental illness. … https://www.bridgedetroit.com/mass_shooting_police_detroit_vigil/

He continues to defer to a lack of mental healthcare. “I’m certainly frustrated with the fact that he should have been getting the services that he needs.”

DPD Chief James White pledges to figure out how the police department can do better in responding to similar mental health crisis incidents. …

“We’ve got to do everything we can as a police department to make sure that we have the tools and equipment that we need so it doesn’t happen again.”

At-Large Commissioner Pressley wonders if there are different police responses to those who hold a knife or a gun. James White says officers are trained to engage someone holding a knife if they are as close as 21 to 31 feet. https://t.co/T8ULOUhGpk

James White says of police responses to knife attacks: “The response is to stop the threat to the citizens, stop the threat to the officer.”

DPD Chief James White says that their Homicide Task Force and the Michigan State Police are investigating the killing of Porter Burks. DPD will also conduct a separate internal investigation.

Commissioner Banks asks about the 21-foot figure that James White gave earlier. James White says he can’t comment further on that figure due to the ongoing investigation. … https://t.co/NZD5xWKbGd

Banks asks why the officers couldn’t have used a taser. James White says the officers were “looking at a fatal force situation” and tasers are only 90 percent effective. …

Banks asks if tasers can be deployed 10 feet away. James White says yes, but again says officers had only three seconds to react to a “deadly encounter.”

“I totally get everyone (asking), ‘What if, what if, what if?’ And the unfortunate reality is I gotta deal with what happened.” James White again points to a lack of mental health services.

DPD Chief James White also points to past police incidents involving Porter Burks, and wonders if they should respond to certain mental health crisis incidents with more force, like they do with barricaded suspects. …

“I think it may be time for violent mental health incidents to do that (SRT). As extreme as that sounds: to cordon off the corners, to negotiate with the person … suiting up, and all those kinds of things. …

Maybe you go in and you’ve got one officer with a bean bag, one officer armed with a more advanced taser, and you go in, and you break the door down, and you get them out that way.”

Commissioner Moore wonders if DPD could use other intermediate weapons like nets.

Commissioner Bell calls for the need for a “deep dive” in how to respond to individuals with weapons. https://t.co/AnGxSrO0M5

Commissioner Carter asks for more data on police responses to mental health crisis. James White lists some relevant statistics and says the vast majority of them are resolved without incident. Carter says, “I think the numbers who that we need to do something different.” https://t.co/BMn3yeW9L8

Commissioner Bernard asks if the Wayne County prosecutor is also conducting an investigating, and if they are, if the officer still has the right to counsel. … https://t.co/X3IcgjWzPV

She also decries the number of shots fired by officers at Porter Burks. “I just have a problem with officers making a person Swiss cheese.”

DPD Chief James White clarifies that while there were approximately 32 shots fired, the medical examiner counted 15 wounds on the body of Porter Burks. He says each officer carries approximately 17 rounds in their handgun and 49 rounds total. https://t.co/DjOL1XuXxl

James White further justifies the killing. “We are trained to stop the threat. It is not like on television. It’s immediate.” He invites commissioners to attend a “Shoot or No Shoot” simulation event.

At-Large Commissioner Holley asks why mental healthcare is not better funded. “Here we are in a Democratic state. The president is Democratic, the prosecutor, the judge … the governor, and the mayor. I just have a hard time chief why we’re not dealing with this institution.” … https://t.co/nPOizmHKgd

He wonders why pandemic relief funds aren’t being devoted to mental health and wants the state to commit more funding to it. …

Holley to James White: “Your heart is good, that’s what I like about you. You have a good heart and a good mind and good training. But I just feel like we’re gonna be here again if we’re not careful because you gotta help these people.”

Commissioner Burton says he advocates for social workers to be based in communities, as well as community training in how to deal with mental health. “I just feel like there’s more that we as elected officials can do from a policy standpoint.” … https://t.co/qaB2bhzFnD

He asks if DPD can show commissioners video footage from the incident in a closed session. James White agrees.

DPD Chief James White: “My heart breaks for this city because we’re never having the right fights.” He again points to the lack of mental health facilities. “Mental health is my passion.” James White also points to former Governor John Engler shutting down mental institutions.

James White asks voters to focus on solutions. “When you go to the polls, make sure you punch the right tickets. Those that have the interests of these communities in mind and not a sound bite of what we did wrong, because that’s the problem.”

Vice Chair Holt says she’s been in contact with state representatives on mental health funding. https://t.co/AksRb260TI

The board proceeds to approve this meeting’s agenda. Bernard says she wants to amend the agenda, but Ferguson says her item is in new business. Bernard is the only “no” vote.

The board also approves the minutes from last Thursday’s meeting: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/Draft%20Minutes%20September%2029%2C%202022.pdf

👥 The board introduces their staff and guests. The board parliamentarian is Dr. Francis Jackson. Their new administrative assistant, Candace Hayes, is present.

Chair Ferguson notes that commissioners Burton and Carter have joined them late.

📝 At 4:02 p.m., the board proceeds to Chair Ferguson’s BOPC Officers’ Report. Ferguson reads a statement.

He says the board looks forward to reviewing details on the killing of Porter Burks. … https://t.co/qDoQPvUxh7

Ferguson also says commissioners have received a revised list of committee assignments and responsibilities. He also says they’ll get information on their new Youth Advisory Panel. …

Lastly, Ferguson asks commissioners to not speak out of turn and adhere to meeting protocols, to maintain order and decorum.

📜 Now to resolutions. There’s only one, for DPD Sergeant David Babcock. Pressley recites the resolution and the board approves entering it into the record. https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/RESOLUTION%20HONORING%20SGT%20%20DAVID%20BABCOCK_Sept2022_0.pdf https://t.co/1WApR0RvRA

📣 At 4:11 p.m., the board proceeds to hear public comments! There are seven commenters. Each will have two minutes to speak.

The first commenter refers to an incident at the recent NACOLE conference where emails disparaging the commissioners was sent to all conference attendees.

Victoria: “As an EMT, it seems that we’re transporting mental health patients to mental health hospitals just about as often as we’re transporting medical patients.” …

This commenter asks DPD Chief James White to find ways to better handle mental health crisis incidents, like the one involving Porter Burks.

Bernice: “My heart is heavy today and it’s because of the fact that our police has been put in a situation in a way I don’t approve of, but there’s nothing I can do.” They want a mental health hospital that was shut down in Detroit to be reopened. …

“I’m sick and tired of police being in a position where they gotta look out for their own lives, and I’m sick and tired of lawyers getting money and making money off of us.”

Minister Eric Blount: “Over the six years of my involvement with this board, it has revealed that no matter who the chairperson is on this board, it’s always the same orchestrated game being played. The time for this board to stop playing these sick games is long overdue.” …

Blount says of the killing of Burks: “The blood of Porter Burks is in on the hand of each and every one of you commissioners.” …

Blount wants the board to demand the further officer-worn body camera footage to be released, saying that of the killing of Hakim Littleton was released within four hours after overwhelming public demand.

Brenda also talks about the killing of Porter Burks. “We have five officers that now have blood on their hands. They are mentally ill now. … We’ve had two Democrats that were governors that could have rescinded what (former Governor) Engler did. …

Having an over $4 million budget, and facial recognition, and (Project) Green Light — and now you’re trying to have ShotSpotter — has not helped.”

Cheryl, a retired city employee, say they’ve been asking police to remove an abandoned car near where they live. They also echo Bernice’s comments.

Former Commissioner William Davis gives some remarks about the killing of Porter Burks. He disapproves of DPD Chief James White’s suggestion of more severe responses to mental health incidents. “Everyone should come away alive.”

📊 At 4:27 p.m., the board proceeds to a presentation on DPD’s Year-to-Date Risk Management Report. https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/Risk%20Mgmt%20BOPC%20Presentation%202022.pdf https://t.co/Gxzt4TtpIM

⏪ Oh, missed something said by commissioners: Chair Ferguson said commenter Cheryl can use the ImproveDetroit app (also known as SeeClickFix) to report the abandoned vehicle in their neighborhood. But another commissioner said they haven’t found much success using that app.

Back to the risk management presentation… https://t.co/hB2lAVcfAR

They’ve completed 13 risk assessments since the start of this year. As a result, 13 officers received training, three were temporarily reassigned and seven were recommended to attend Peers+ meetings. https://t.co/Tum7uSazUa

DPD has had 21 preliminary inquiries this year, including 11 incident triggers and 10 notification triggers. (The presenter verbally corrected the figures in the slide deck.) https://t.co/PfDbWepqSf

Commissioner Moore asks who enters data into DPD’s Management Awareness System (MAS). The presenter says they have a team who maintains MAS. … https://t.co/zMk2e2weNj

A co-presenter (whose name I didn’t catch) says officers also enter incidents into MAS. Moore asks if there is a set timeframe for officers to do so. The co-presenter says no.

(The person pictured two tweets ago is the co-presenter.)

Commissioner Banks asks about disciplinary risk management administration. The presenter says they do not enact discipline. “It’s meant to rehabilitate.” https://t.co/hKfyvoNRMX

Banks asks about the kind of training officers receive as a result of risk management. The presenter says training is catered to each officer. … https://t.co/PsPt8FWBdg

Banks asks about their success rate. The presenter says “there’s no one thing. It’s so individualized, it depends on what we see and depends on what we do.”

Vice Chair Holt asks something I didn’t quite understand. Readers, I suggest checking out the notes that my fellow notetaker will publish soon: https://detroit.documenters.org/assignments/board-of-police-commissioners-4643/

Commissioner Bell says most citizen complaints depend on an officer’s “demeanor.” He says most complaints are “not a serious matter,” but are based mostly on how officers treat citizens. …

The presenter says officers need to be trained on how to approach citizens of different cultures, including citizens from the Middle East.

Commissioner Carter suggests distributing flyers with QR codes that link to online surveys, asking about officer conduct.

✉️ At 4:56 p.m., the board proceeds to communications, as reported by Interim Secretary Melanie White. This includes weekly reports on DPD’s use of surveillance technology.

Facial recognition: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/221003%20BOPC%20Facial%20Rec%20Report_0.pdf

ShotSpotter: https://detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitmi.localhost/files/events/2022-10/221003%20BOPC%20ShotSpotter_0.pdf https://t.co/DZzsqUe7oq

Vice Chair Holt now gives an update on the BOPC Youth Advisory Panel. She says they are now reviewing applications, which were done online. They have high school and Wayne State University students who have applied. … https://t.co/Adrg8kpno8

Holt asks if applications are still being accepted, and Melanie White says they closed on Sept. 30. Staffmember Teresa Blossom says they recruited applicants from Detroit public schools. Holt says Detroit Public Schools Community District employee Angel Fox helped with this.

Parliamentarian Jackson now talks about the difference between rescinding, reconsidering and amending agenda items. I’m pretty sure this relates to last week’s meeting. “The only way to correct minutes is to amend something previously adopted.” https://t.co/y9YvR7M42H

💼 At 5:06 p.m., the board proceeds to new business. Bernard says she has written to the board to notify them of her desire to make an amendment to this meeting’s agenda. This relates to the rescinding of a vote on an officer they voted to compensate. …

Bernard moves to “eliminate that verbiage from the minutes.” Parliamentarian Jackson says she has to move to expunge and requires a simple majority. Bernard moves to expunge “language related to NACOLE” from the minutes of a past meeting.

At-Large Commissioner Hernandez asks for a draft copy of the minutes with the expunged language. Pressley wonders says he’s confused about the effect of this proposal. …

Bernard says “any discussion about NACOLE was totally inappropriate and shouldn’t be in the minutes.” Holley says, “You can’t deny me of my right to say what I want to say on the (record).”

Friends, I’m afraid I only have a tenuous grasp of what’s going on here.

It definitely has something to do with the board’s NACOLE conference controversy and their previous meeting, when Bernard vehemently disapproved of past meeting minutes.

It appears that some commissioners are also still confused on what’s happening. Hernandez asks for more clarity. Bernard responds passionately but I can’t confidently explain what she said. …

Bell suggests amending her motion to bring this matter back in two weeks, because next week is a Community Meeting. Bernard makes a motion, it’s seconded, and all vote to approve it.

Parliamentarian Jackson says she won’t be at the next board meeting.

We’re still in New Business. Commissioner Burton wants matters that come before the board to be timestamped. He also wants the role of commissioners to be better communicated to the public — he thinks the public is not aware of their responsibilities. …

Ferguson insists that commissioners are issued “state-of-the-art laptops” and are sent emails. https://t.co/B6csfoczhl

Bernard moves to “rescind the motion previously adopted for Victoria Shah to give a 20 minute presentation in three weeks.” In discussion, she says: “I have never seen a board so obsessed with not receiving information.” … https://t.co/IJXQgaMyct

Ferguson says Shah will get to present in January, but Bernard wants it to come earlier. “I’m not for January.” A commissioner wants to recess the meeting for an hour, but many commissioners say they don’t want that.

Ferguson says they could only fit Shah’s presentation in January, when commissioners receive training. Holt is talking about something but other commissioners start talking over her. …

Moore says it might not be sensible to fit Shah’s presentation in just ten minutes.

Parliamentarian Jackson says the duration of the presentation is not relevant to this discussion.

They now vote on Bernard’s motion. There are eight yes votes and three no votes — it is approved. https://t.co/jDT37yzZS3

Burton now speaks. “We should be hearing from more of our community leaders to give presentations before this body. We often hear so much from DPD … but we don’t hear presentations from the community.” …

Burton is not confident in the board’s performance. “We just do not pass the smell test.” Bernard: “Agreed.” …

Holley says, “The community speaks every Thursday.” He expresses approval of Victoria Shah. He moves to give her 30 minutes in a meeting in January, but other commissioners try to move for 40 or 60 minutes. …

Parliamentarian Jackson says they have to proceed with the motion for 30 minutes.

Holt seconds that motion. Hernandez amends the motion for 40 minutes, which is seconded. Burton also amends the motion to give Shah 45 minutes to present. That is seconded. They vote on that amendment: It fails with only four “yes” votes.

Now they vote to amend the motion, giving Shah 40 minutes to present in January: It passes with seven “yes” votes.

Holley to Holt voting no: “What’s wrong with you?”

Now they vote on the original motion to allow Shah to present in January: It passes with seven “yes” votes.

Victoria Shah will get to give her presentation in January.

🎺 Announcements! The board’s meeting schedule: https://detroitmi.gov/document/2022-bopc-meeting-calendarrevised https://t.co/mTd5n49IUa

Burton asks attendees to tune into 910 AM on Sunday morning. “You’ll be in for a treat.”

Another commissioner (Bernard?) also shares a Delta Sigma Theta Sorority event for young people happening on Halloween, starting at 4 p.m.

⏱ At 5:46 p.m., the meeting adjourns!

Next Wednesday, Oct. 12, BOPC will host its committee meetings: https://detroitmi.gov/Calendar-and-Events?field_start_value=2022-10-12&title=&term_node_tid_depth=All&term_node_tid_depth_1=1676&term_node_tid_depth_2=All https://t.co/hQO1ErVkWR

That’s my live coverage of this Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting. 😊 Thanks for reading!

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Corrections may follow below.