Board of Police Commissioners, Evening Community Meeting
Detroit Board of Police Commissioners
Criminal Justice
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024
6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. EDT
Remote
Join meeting on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81981390642
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Live reporting by
Colleen Cirocco
The board heard a presentation from Daniel Eichinger of Wayne County's Indigent Defense Services Department, which provides legal representation to individuals charged with a felony who cannot afford an attorney. Eichinger said their role supports public safety and health.
Hey Detroit! Tonight at 6:30, I'll be live-tweeting the Board of Police Commissioners Evening Community meeting for @DetDocumenters #DETdocumenters Media Partners: @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @media_outlier @metrotimes @michigan_public @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
01:03 PM Oct 10, 2024 CDT
Tonight's meeting is being held virtually through Zoom and in person at Goodwill Industries Career Center-Flip the Script, 2777 East Grand Boulevard. Here's the agenda which includes the Zoom link to join the meeting. detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
This speaker is describing an annual block party that he's been organizing for the last 13 years, and how he was harassed this year. Wants police to be held accountable, they injured his arm and harassed him. 11th precinct.
Seems like we are already in Public Comment. Maybe there isn't a quorum in the board? Here is the current speaker:
This commenter's main point is that the DPD policy manual that is available to the public is not up to date. The board responds that they will look into this - he is pleased with the policy manager doing a deep dive into all of their policies.
The video stream of the meeting has been cut off and we are just looking at the timer for the commenters.
Now we're back with the group, they are doing a roll call. Commissioners Carter, Pressley, and Bell are excused. They have a quorum. Agenda #1-6 Agenda has been approved. Minutes from the previous meeting have been approved. BOPC staff and precinct are being introduced.
Commissioner Willie Burton (district 5) is sharing some kind words on the 3rd precinct where the meeting is being held.
Motion to cancel the 10/17 BOPC meeting because they will be out of town for the NACO Conference. Burton has a discussion point that they reschedule the meeting to be in compliance with the charter. Commissioner Bernard says it would be impossible to prepare for with no staff.
Burton says there will be staff and they have a fiduciary responsibility to the community to meet weekly.
Burton continues that there are specific reasons why meetings can be canceled and this is not one of them. Woods notes that he doesn't have a second to his discussion. Motion has already been approved.
Moving on to Item 8, the Chief of Police and 3rd Precinct Officers' Report.
Crime stats - Homicides, nonfatal shootings, and robberies are down from last year. Mental health calls are up this year. Here is the report that he is reading from detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
detroitmi.gov/sites/detroitm…
Incident 1 - Fatal stabbing on 9/29, officers showed up to investigate a missing person. Found the victim inside the residence suffered from a stab wound. Victim's car was recovered in Dearborn, found suspect and concluded they murdered the victim.
Incident 2 - officers found someone riding a bike that was violating parole (?) - individual fired at the police. Individual fatally wounded themself (?)
Incident 3 - victim lying on sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds, deceased. Under investigation. Incident 4- officers found victim with multiple gunshot wounds in the seat of a vehicle. Under homicide investigation. Incident 5 - a child stabbed, suspect is older white man
Chief is mentioning various events - including Domestic Violence Awareness Month that kicks off Friday - there will be speakers and resources at Public Safety Headquarters on Friday.
Commissioner Banks asks if they have any evidence that the victim wounded himself in the previously mentioned incident. The chief says it's still under investigation.
Commissioner Moore mentions that the incident with the stabbing of a girl is being investigated as a hate crime.
Commissioner Bernard says that this information was not given to the board, asks that it will be provided in the future. Chief recognizes that this was an oversight. Bernard says that on the 18th you can come to police headquarters for a COVID vaccine.
Bernard continues to encourage everyone to wear purple tomorrow to the Domestic Violence awareness day at police headquarters. Chief says domestic violence is a huge part of the cases they encounter.
Commissioner Dewaelsche asks about the increase of mental health calls, the only one that hasn't gone up were the calls where the individual is armed. How do they account for this trend? Chief says there is more awareness- more outreach and intervention.
Calls are dispatched to mental health unit - they are aware that it is difficult for the police to handle mental health crises. Crisis Intervention Team is doing a phenomenal job.
Commissioner Burton asks if the new building (the old one was on Grand Blvd and Woodward) has been helping. Chief - a lot support from the city and the General Services Department. Burton is wondering if they will be getting electric vehicles.
Burton asks how is the fleet doing - it has been a while since vehicles have been donated - as far as travel time, response time. "I would love to hear something at a later time, but not today." This question has been going on for a few minutes...
Chair Woods asks the chief to get that information to Burton, and thinks the finance committee should be doing a deep dive on that.
Commissioner Bernard makes the point that men are also victims of domestic violence. "They're not supposed to be beat up by girls, but they can be." Part of outreach should be outreach to men.
Commissioner Banks asks what kind of topics will be brought up at the Domestic Violence event. That event has been publicized - it's not just for women, for everyone, not just f or survivors, for allies, everyone. (just a note, I did a quick search and couldn't find event info)
10am the Domestic Violence event starts at Police Headquarters on 3rd street. Banks wants to know if there will be topics like 'how to spot an abuser' etc.
Seems like they don't have the exact topics, but thinks it will be a very good event, there will be speakers.
Commander Fulgenzi from the 3rd Precinct gives a presentation.
Cites a reduction in crime when it comes to businesses, home invasions, and vehicles. Ended 2023 with historic low numbers in fatal and non fatal shootings. Fatal shootings down 51.1% in a 2 year period. Lots of reductions but 1 crime is too many.
Mentions block parties filing proper permits. Biggest strategy for mental health is knowing they can't do it alone - partnerships with community is crucial. Green Bay is asking Detroit how Detroit did so well with the NFL Draft.
Captain Conway Petty approaches the board to talk about community engagement. National Night Out, Trunk or Treat, coat drive on the 19th, coats given out on Halloween. Next community meeting is Oct 15. Anti-bullying classes, conflict resolution, DARE, gun safety classes.
Commissioner Moore thanks the precinct for everything they do and their leadership. Commissioner Burton thanks the commander and captain and everyone from the third precincts, recognizes that they're like a family.
Now community members are introducing themselves - I missed what their organization is called but they are in the 3rd precinct.
I'm not sure where we're at in the agenda, but Commissioner Burton is approaching the board to recognize some community members. First up is Rita Smith, who just spoke.
He has a certificate of appreciate for police officer of the quarter, Mario Esselman (sp). The last certificate of appreciation is for Rodney Day, who is at the Tigers game.
We were about to go into Public Comment, but Burton wanted to take a moment to recognize all of the MPOs in the room.
Public Comment 1. Wants to know how many helicopters they have and helicopter pilots. Does the department monitor protestors, wants to know if he's monitoring while he's living his life.
2. Marguerite Maddox provides public comment - thinks the department needs to do a better job. Has has negative experiences too much in the past 3 years.
Chair Woods wants follow up on the transit unit that there are no safety issues within the DDOT system, that ADA is being followed, and that residents with disabilities are being treated with dignity and respect.
It sounds like Maddox is there in person, but I can't see anything because they are only displaying the timer. Burton says he is glad to see her in person and wants to make sure she gets home safely.
Next public commenter - I am having a hard time hearing her because of the audio. It sounds like she is having an issue with a lawyer who took all of her money.
Next up is a public commenter calling in - addresses Chair Woods, calling in about a specific case of Kenesha Coleman. The board authorized a redacted report about the homicide, wants the unredacted report.
Next commenter believes the budget for the board should be expanded, if more officers are hired and the police are taking on transit duties. Would like them to do some PSAs to encourage people to vote, to know it will be protected from any protestors.
Discussion about the Kenesha Coleman report that was requested by a commenter. Some back and forth between Woods and Bernard. Woods says the board does not own the report.
Burton challenges Woods about silencing Bernard. Woods responds that they are following Parliamentary Procedure and he should study it.
Next up is item 10 - Presentation to the Board - Daniel J. Eichinger.
Program manager for organization that provides attorneys to indigent clients. Public defense factors into public safety. Wayne County has the highest number of exonerations in the state. linkedin.com/in/daniel-eich…
linkedin.com/in/daniel-eich…
Correction, this is a department with Wayne County. waynecounty.com/departments/id…
waynecounty.com/departments/id…
Bernard asks waht is the budget for his department. It's about $50 million - includes all attorney fees. Bernard asks if they have worked on any high profile cases that the community would know about - he lists a couple that involved children.
Moore asks his opinion on the Michael Jackson Milanos case. The audio is really not great on his mic for some reason - can't make out what he was saying for this one. Sounds like he doesn't know enough about it to comment.
Going back to Burton's certificate of appreciation for officer Mario Esselman (sp) - this officer is now present. (also, Tigers are winning)
Moving on to these agenda items - Report from secretary and Announcements. She lists the dates, times, and locations for upcoming meetings.
Chair Woods moves into New Business. Will defer anything related to subpoenas to attorneys and recuse himself. They don't need to get caught up with schisms when they're dealing with the people of Detroit.
Commissioner Smith asks for clarity - can they not have any influence as an oversight board? What is it expected for us to do? Bernard says they request the report. Lots of bickering going on right now.
Burton is speaking up for Bernard and Woods says he's out of order. "This is embarrassing." - Woods "It's embarrassing how you treat a woman whose old enough to be your mother" - Burton
Correction, the conference they discussed at the beginning of the meeting that led to the canceling of an upcoming BOPC meeting is called NACOLE - The National Association for Civilian Oversight on Law Enforcement https://x.com/DetroitJCS/status/1844534006026531113
If you find anything inaccurate in my tweets, please email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.”
Meeting adjourned at 8:29pm. This concludes the Board of Police Commissioners Evening Community Meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for 10/24/24 (they voted to cancel the meeting on the 17th). For more meeting coverage, check out . documenters.org
documenters.org
Also I did finally find event information about the Domestic Violence Awareness event that is happening tomorrow: facebook.com/share/p/4bq62Q…
facebook.com/share/p/4bq62Q…
Attachments
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Agency Information
Detroit Board of Police Commissioners
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
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