Note-taking by
Damien Benson
The board flexed its charter-mandated oversight of the Detroit Police Department by denying promotions for officers with records they found “alarming,” requesting bodycam footage of the Sherman Butler incident, and authorizing a subpoena for a file on an open case.
Live reporting by
Nathaniel Eichenhorn
The board flexed its charter-mandated oversight of the Detroit Police Department by denying promotions for officers with records they found “alarming,” requesting body cam footage of the Sherman Butler incident, and authorizing a subpoena for a file on an open case.
01:32 PM Aug 15, 2024 CDT
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
5/52
@DetDocumenters They lost a quorum because a board member left, prompting Chairperson Woods to describe them as "derelict in their duty" not sure what the story is, but I'll try to find out. In the meantime, they're going to hear public comment
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
6/52
@DetDocumenters They took roll and Woods, Bell, Dewaelsche, Moore and Pressley were present and Bernard is expected presently. They approved the minutes and agenda at once
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
7/52
@DetDocumenters The Chief of Police report is being delivered now. Violent crime is down generally, with an 8.2% reduction in all property crimes.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
8/52
@DetDocumenters Chief White also reported, as has become sadly regular for these reports, that a dead body was found with an ostensibly fatal wound to the head.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
9/52
@DetDocumenters Comm'r Pressley brought up continuing reports of officers, particularly detectives, failing to keep in regular contact, and even failing to return multiple phone calls to citizens involved in cases.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
10/52
@DetDocumenters Chief White says the Department is working on this issue and asked the board to help developing strategies to improve the situation. White: "it's not working" regarding DPD returning phone calls
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
11/52
@DetDocumenters Comm'r Burton asked why it took so long for DPD to respond to the recent mass shooting over the Independence Day weekend. White directly contradicted that assertion and said that it is not true that the Department took a long time.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
12/52
@DetDocumenters Burton asked what went wrong, White responded that "What went wrong was somebody made the choice to shoot... people"
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
13/52
@DetDocumenters Woods also asserted that Burton's claim that it took an hour for DPD to respond was baldly false
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
15/52
@DetDocumenters Comm'r Smith asked White for an update on the Na'Ziyah Harris. Chief White said an announcement would be made soon, and strongly implied a tragic outcome.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
17/52
@DetDocumenters The board was going to bundle all the appointments into one vote, but Pressley has asked that those who are being promoted to sergeant be voted on separately
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
19/52
@DetDocumenters Bernard called some of the appointments "sketchy" but added, to White, "you lead the team, you pick the team"
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
22/52
@DetDocumenters Chief White brought another name for promotion and made very clear he was doing so due to the collective bargaining agreement with the police union, and not because he thinks it's a good idea. He said he has very serious concerns.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
23/52
@DetDocumenters Thread continues here: https://x.com/NachumDetroit/status/1824178999465218292?t=Wd1zEErPvM4kKVn7W2-t7g&s=19
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
24/52
@DetDocumenters The officer in question has multiple complaints against them including a charge of Conduct Unbecoming as recently as 2020
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
25/52
@DetDocumenters The vote was as follows: Woods no Bernard abstains Bell yes Hernandez no Dewaelsche no Smith no Burton no Moore no Pressley no The motion having failed, the matter will likely go to arbitration
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
26/52
@DetDocumenters Some more recommendations were approved, and two were taken out. The vote for all except those two was: Woods yes Bernard yes Bell yes Hernandez yes DeWalt yes Smith yes Burton abstain Moore abstain Pressley yes
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
27/52
@DetDocumenters White is obviously trying to avoid saying anything explicit about the candidates he did NOT recommend. He is hinting at things however; for example pointing out that an officers conduct at home is as important as his conduct on duty, and other such legally opaque observations
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
28/52
@DetDocumenters Whoops, thread continues here https://x.com/NachumDetroit/status/1824182650162254003?t=mCstKvYaCYHh6E2Nj0TbXA&s=19
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
29/52
@DetDocumenters Both officers that were removed from the list received no motion, and so they automatically fail and will also go to arbitration under the collective bargaining agreement.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
31/52
@DetDocumenters You may ask "if a police chief that has no power to deny bad officers' promotions is forced by the police union to present these promotions before a Commission that can do no more than briefly delay those promotions?"
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
32/52
@DetDocumenters "... then what is the point, when it comes to promotions, of the Commission? Or the office of the chief?"
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
33/52
@DetDocumenters You may ask that. You might. That could be a question one might ask, when presented with this scene.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
35/52
@DetDocumenters A former Comm'r called in and congratulated the board for at least voting no on some of the promotions
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
37/52
@DetDocumenters The next caller made an identical demand of the Board, namely, that a Commissioner should move to release the footage, and another commissioner should second it
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
38/52
@DetDocumenters The same caller thanked the Board for voting no on an officer's promotion, and said that the DPD keeps hiring suburban officers who have no investment in the community
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
39/52
@DetDocumenters Comm'r Woods moved to release the footage, Burton seconded. Hernandez said they may not have the authority to do this
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
40/52
@DetDocumenters The board is concerned that the DPD has not categorized the killing as an officer-involved shooting in order to exploit a loophole and not release the footage in a timely manner
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
43/52
@DetDocumenters The committee is recommending several raises in salary for some employees to bring them to parity with other similar employees
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
44/52
@DetDocumenters Burton is holding up the vote on the raises, asking for comprehensive evaluations of each employee's performance. The promotions passed without a roll call.
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
45/52
@DetDocumenters Two separate board members have heard reports of DPD officers harassing people stopped at gas stations and hassling them about guns, specifically CCW holders. DPD Deputy chief said she hasn't heard anything about it
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
46/52
@DetDocumenters Last order of business for the day is a closed session. I'll let you know when they're back
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
48/52
@DetDocumenters The motion failed as follows Woods no Bernard no Hernandez yes DeWalt yes Smith yes Burton abstain Moore no Pressley no
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
49/52
@DetDocumenters Bernard made a motion to authorize a subpoena for the file of an open case. Woods responded that such a motion was premature. Bernard went in to comment on the case, and Woods shut her down
Nachum Eichenhorn
@NachumDetroit
52/52
@DetDocumenters If you believe anything in the coverage today is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" in the subject line
