Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting, Feb. 2, 2022 

Many types of use-of-force incidents increased last year, according to the Detroit Police Department (DPD). Despite an overall 10% decrease, the most severe uses of force under Category 1 and other uses of force under Categories 3 and 4 increased up to 33%. These categories cover uses of force that cause death, injuries including broken bones and canine bites, and forcible handcuffing. 

Category 2 uses of force decreased, which include the use of batons, chemical sprays and physical controls such as joint locks. Instances of officers aiming a firearm at a target (such as a person) without firing also decreased. Arrests also increased last year. 

A young man and his family are unhappy with how his formal complaint against 7th Precinct police officers is being handled. They first brought this up during a board meeting on Jan. 19. 

The young man said commissioners “have been doing a poor job” of communicating with him about the complaint. According to a family member, the board’s Office of the Chief Investigator (OCI), which investigates citizen complaints, said it “didn’t have the case.” The young man, his family members and community advocates all advocated for the police department to remove the involved officers from duty. 

The 7th Precinct is within District 5, represented by Commissioner Willie Burton. Burton asked other commissioners to hear out the family’s comments. A police captain said the investigation for the young man’s complaint may have been transferred from OCI to the police department’s Internal Affairs.

A board staffmember acknowledged there was a miscommunication with the young man’s family. 

DPD’s budget request for fiscal year 2024 is $86.9 million, a $6.9 million increase from 2023. The top three capital expenditures for 2024 are $8.6 million for Taser 7 stun guns, $6 million to renovate the Metro Division building on Sherwood Street and $4 million to renovate the 2nd Precinct building. 

Some commissioners said the board should hire an accountant or financial expert who could better interpret the police department’s budget requests. 

The board’s Personnel & Training Committee is “on track” for the hiring of a chief investigator and board secretary, according to Commissioner Jesus Hernandez, who chairs the committee. He said there were 21 applicants for chief investigator and 16 for board secretary. 

The board is scheduled to interview the top two candidates for each position on Feb. 10. Hernandez says the new hires would be onboarded as early as Feb. 27.