Board of Police Commissioners meeting gets philosophical, biblical

It’s a question that comes up at Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meetings from time to time: What should the board’s relationship with the Detroit Police Department be?

Last week, Deputy Chief Franklin Hayes presented a report on behalf of Chief James White, in which he discussed several topics, including a year-over-year decline in certain types of violent crime — which is a continuing trend in Detroit — and the department’s efforts to crack down on drag racing and unsanctioned block parties.

Commissioner Cedric Banks asked a question after the report, but then turned his attention to his fellow board members, offering up a statement he’d been planning since a previous meeting: “We’re not here to praise the chief or Detroit Police Department. We took an oath to stand for justice.”

The board, which is made up of 11 members — seven elected from districts, four appointed by the mayor — was created by the city charter in 1974 as a form of police oversight. It is meant to help establish police policies and resolve citizen complaints against police officers and department personnel. It also votes on disciplinary actions and promotions for officers as well as the police budget before it’s sent to the mayor.

But Police Lt. Mark Young, a regular meeting attendee who is active with police unions, took issue with Banks’ statement about the board’s role.

“I heard something very disturbing that you’re not here to support the men and women of the Detroit Police Department,” Young said during public comment, which he frequently participates in. “That’s exactly what you’re here for.”

Young went on to talk about how hard it is to be a police officer and asked that the board be sure to exercise due process in making disciplinary decisions about officers.

“When you say that you’re not here to champion the men and women of the Detroit Police Department, take them gold badges off,” Young said, referencing the badges that commissioners are issued.

“Bible says praise no man. No man. That’s biblical. That’s scripture,” responded Banks, who is also a pastor at The Heart of Jesus International Deliverance Church in Detroit. “I love Chief White and other officers. But if they wrong, I’m not standing with them.”

Detroit Documenters Nathaniel Eichenhorn, Laila Hamdan and Shiva Shahmir contributed to this story.

Board of Police Commissioners meeting gets philosophical, biblical · Outlier Media