Edited and summarized by the
Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking byPaige Rollins
The board asked Chief James White about suburban police departments — particularly Warren PD — chasing suspects into Detroit, often resulting in vehicle crashes and endangering residents. White acknowledged the issue, and Bernard suggested addressing it at the state legislature.
The board asked Chief James White about suburban police departments — particularly Warren PD — chasing suspects into Detroit, often resulting in vehicle crashes and endangering residents. White acknowledged the issue, and Bernard suggested addressing it at the state legislature.
He further reports that crime numbers have, in general, recovered to pre-Covid levels. Chief White reports that violent crime rates have "blown past" (downwards) pre-Covid numbers, reflecting a significant drop.
The board brought up the problem of suburban police departments chasing suspects into Detroit. It seems Warren PD likes to do this a lot. Chief White says there's protocols and those cops should be informed DPD when that happens.
Chief White says DPD doesn't chase suspects unless they think the suspect will imminently cause harm to someone. Other departments are not so strict in their policies.
Comm'r Bernard suggested this matter be taken to the state legislature if headway cannot be made department-to-department and Chief White indicated his support for that idea.
Comm'r Burton has some citizen complaints about blight tickets. Chief White says if tickets were issued erroneously, there should be a remedy. However, he says "just because you're impoverished, doesn't mean you can live in filth"
Chief White said if Burton gives him the information on the tickets and he can look into it. Burton wants to know how the decision to ticket is made. They were basically talking past each other until the chair stepped in.
Comm'r Pressley has a question about the continuing problem of officers not getting back to family members, particularly family members affected by homicide
Since the launch of this group, people have come out of the woodwork to to describe their sometimes decade-old cold cases for which they cannot get updates.
That is to say, the group was originally founded to keep up with victims of current cases, however, Chief White says it has transformed into a much more comprehensive group, and may need expanding
Take away for me: this is an OLD problem that is apparently so bad and intractable that people have since GIVEN UP in droves, and are trying again because they heard something might be being done about it.
Woods asked about the continuing issue of body cam footage not being released. Chief White basically said he releases videos after a 45 day maximum and that those who want a shorter maximum don't understand the complexities involved.
Bernard says she notices when a body cam video exculpates the department it is released at once, but if a video may incriminate an officer of the department, there is a delay. Chief White says he is committed to releasing all videos.
First up is Minister Eric Blount, who described several cases of alleged misconduct and identified Chief White with former chief Craig, and said they are not so different.
The next commenter was concerned about inconsistent police response to a threat on the commenter. She said she feels unsafe and the board referred her to the deputy chiefs for follow up.
Zoom caller says it's been over 80 days since the death of Sherman Butler and unedited body cam footage is still unreleased. The caller says she has doubts whether the investigation is ongoing or if there will ever be a trial.
DPD rep says the Sherman Butler case doesn't need to be released in the 45 day window because it technically isn't an officer involved shooting (the actual shooting was done by a bailiff, but there were several cops there, and those officers body cams remain unreleased.
Former commissioner William Davis is called in to urge the board and the department to make sure that people are being adequately protected at the polls during the upcoming election. He alluded to voter intimidation by Trump supporters
Davis also says that other municipalities managed to enforce their air pollution regulations regarding idling trucks and wondered aloud why Detroit is lagging so far behind in this
Well folks, this closes my coverage of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting for October 3. Learn more about our coverage of local meetings at documenters.org
‼️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
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
