Police accountability always has been important to me. As a young Black police officer, I fought against police brutality by my fellow officers. As the founder of Concerned Police Officers for Equal Justice and as a leader in the regional and national chapters for the National Black Police Officers Association, I know Black officers were the early eyes and ears that informed civil rights movements and policies. We supported and cheered the formation of the Board of Police Commissioners. I worked for the board as the administrative lieutenant handing complaints about officer misconduct.
Since 2014, I have served on the board as the elected police commissioner for District 4; this is my third and final term.
So your recent article about the lack of public interest in running for the board ― there are no candidates for three of the seven elected seats on the 11-member board, and in three other races, a single candidate is running unopposed ― and questions about the relevancy of the board is deeply disappointing but not really surprising. (“Detroit Police Board Commissioners struggle for candidates in August primary,” Detroit Free Press, May 20.) If the August primary fails to yield successful candidates, including write-ins, the charter gives the mayor appointment power to fill vacancies.
There is a lot wrong with the board, but a few changes can make a big difference in its effectiveness and in its appeal to those interested in public service.
In fact, the board proposed several to the Charter Revision Commission in 2021. The voters rejected all charter revisions. However, when six of seven elected positions draw no interest or little interest from district residents, a few of the board’s proposals are worth restating.
One, the meeting schedule needs to change. The board meets every Thursday, plus holds committee meetings. A leaner schedule would allow for better focus and attendance. The board has tried to amend its own schedule, but then cries are raised about violating the charter. The charter requires weekly meetings and only allows a recess for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year holidays. That is too demanding for volunteers. It does not recognize the other employee holidays when city buildings are closed. The board should meet twice each month: once at public safety headquarters and once in the community. This would free committees to meet in other weeks and allow the board to recess for all city holidays and, like City Council, for one month in summer.
Two, the stipend, which mainly covers travel expenses for meetings, needs to increase significantly. The Detroit Elected Officials Compensation Commission, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by City Council, sets the stipend. The commission can take action at its meetings. It has raised salaries for the mayor, council members and clerk, but not for police commissioners. This year, the monthly stipend for a commissioner is $385.84, and $573.22 for the chairperson.
The demands on a police commissioner are extensive ― at least 49 weekly meetings that can range from one to five hours long, plus the stacks of reading and reviews needed for preparation. When the 2012 Detroit City Charter added district elections, it created an implicit obligation to constituents but provided no specific mechanism or resources to serve them; yet elected commissioners attend numerous community meetings and work on resident concerns regularly. The current mayor and council can show they respect the work of police commissioners by getting the compensation panel, whose members they appoint and confirm, to increase the stipend now.
Three, the term for the four appointed police commissioners should be the same as elected members. The 2012 charter revision did not change Detroit’s strong mayor form of government. The mayor has enough power over the police department. It is part of the mayor’s administration and he appoints the police chief. Giving the mayor’s appointed police commissioners a longer term is unfair and unneeded.
These all require charter changes. There are other changes needed, like ending the practice of arbitrators allowing problem officers to return after the board approves suspensions, which would restore the power and relevance Detroiters intended 50 years. Detroiters are asked to vote every 16 years on whether to seat a charter revision commission, and the next such vote is in 2034. In the meantime, the City Council can put a charter amendment on the ballot, or voters can amend the charter with a referendum.
Detroit was a leader in civilian oversight in 1974. The change to a hybrid elected-appointed board certainly caused changes and growing pains. While voters seemed to want the independence of community volunteers serving on the board, the Detroit poverty rate means many residents are busy enough with daily survival and do not have the time or resources to serve, even if they have interest. Given the composition of the board today and the meager field running as police commissioner, Detroiters need to act now.
Willie E. Bell
The writer represents District 4 on Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit’s Board of Police Commissioners needs major changes to be viable | Letter
Reporting by Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
