Spooky

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That is my coverage for the 3/5/2026 Board of Police Commissioners meeting.
‼️IMPORTANT‼️If any of this coverage is not correct, email documenters@outliermedia.org with 'Correction Request' in the subject line.

They adjourn at 4:22.

I must say this meeting left me feeling like I had consumed a lot of empty calories.

In discussion, they refer to two events going on tonight...but do not have fliers for 🙄... one has to do with how to make an effective public comment, the other is Mayor Sheffield community outreach meeting...'you can find it on the City website'.
Sure.

Apparently to item 5, Presentation to the Board...as they move to 6, Report from Board Secretary Lydia Garnier, we are told we have a copy of documents referred to in 6.E & F...but E & F are not in the the agenda 😆😆😆

Finally person for public comments fires back & insists that board is disrespectful to the community & needs to hold itself accountable

Well, you can tell it is a new board...lots of discussion about how we need to be respectful and a brief lesson on the Open Meetings Act from Parliamentarian--as in No, you cannot fix mean & mean people also have 1st Amendment rights

Significantly smaller number of public comments than usual and most seemed to be cut off before they could really get to their point

In-person comments done, moving to Zoom...first person is speaking very quickly and has a host of call-outs...you will have to check transcript

A Mr Cousins is up, describing how two women trespassed and burned down a house he purchased from DLBA and believes he has received no support from police...asking to have his case reassigned

Next person up with accusations that there are illegal immigrants and ex-offenders in the Detroit police force...says OCI not doing its job in this matter

Next person has questions & concerns on ICE and sharing local data

Agenda moves to item 4, Oral Communications/Public Comments...first person emphasizes the string of bad news regarding shootings and underscores need for distribution/communications on gun locks

And hey...they get some of the info requested right away--drag racing enforcement will begin March 13

Police: Girl, 6, shot, killed with unsecured gun in Detroit parking lot The girl and four other children were left in a vehicle unattended with an unsecured weapon inside, Detroit police said.

As the police report discussed more deaths with unsecured firearms like the story below, there was chatter about distributing gun locks
www.usatoday.com/story/news/l...

Also a question about possibility of department acquiring drones...some discussion about this, noting drones were brought up in 2024 but how they would be acquired & used has not been shared with the board 😯... but not to worry, a presentation will be forthcoming.

Oh. Okay.

Question from commission on when drag racing detail starts and clarification on noise ordinances as they relate to moving vehicles...exact details were not available off the top of his head, specifics will be forthcoming

The man himself, delivering report then taking questions...

They move to the Chief of Police Report, which begins with the usual & kinda creepy listing of what's up/what's down compared to this time previous year...and then is followed with a recap of all the bad news you have been treated to in the media, just way more succinctly

They appear to advance the two motions...which (I believe) move the items forward for review...so somewhat anticlimatic

If you want background on Da'Quain Johnson, check story here👇🔗
www.mlive.com/news/grand-r...

Some of the dialogue...
it appears that some of the discomfort has to do with asking the public to contact OCI if they observe police misconduct...OCI refers to the Office of the Chief Investigator
detroitmi.gov/government/b...

There is also follow-up on establishing committee for revising by-laws, review of a document's language...but in this (and the matter concerning statement about Da'Quain Johnson) I don't have any of the statements/documents being discussed in front of me...so it all feels a little unreal

They are trying to issue a statement regarding Grand Rapids police shooting of Da'Quain Johnson...but incident was out of Detroit police jurisdiction/statement & process can have effect of establishing precedent

So on to Agenda 2, BOPC Officers’ Report – Chair Eva Garza Dewaelsche...as often occurs, we have some complex (or perhaps just confusing) regarding how motions can be made and whether certain statements can be made

Roll call done...7 present, one on the way & they have a quorum. Roaring through the usual (Agenda 1.A-G)

Hey, #Detroit @detdocumenters.bsky.social It is 3:00 PM and the Board of Police Commissioners is opening with invocation

Anger at Detroit police U-turn over officers’ call to border agents Police chief accused of caving to Republican demands by reversing decision to fire implicated duo

Interesting to see the situation in which two Detroit police officers called Customs and Border Patrol to coordinate an arrest made the British press...interesting article from UK The Guardian below (so pip-pip, cheerio, 1066 & all that)👇🔗
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Meeting can be attended in person, and is held at 1301 Third Street, Suite 767, South Detroit, MI 48226...but I am keeping dry and staying in, covering it remotely. Options for remote participation and today's agenda + supporting documents available here👇🔗
detroitmi.gov/events/board...

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