Detroit— The Board of Police Commissioners, the citizen
oversight board that rules on Detroit police policy and personnel matters, is
in limbo.
The board can’t make decisions because there are only three
members, one short of a quorum — and even if all the seats were filled, an
executive order by Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr gave Police Chief James Craig
the ability to bypass the board on personnel matters, one of its most crucial
functions.
Commissioner Jerome Warfield is planning a public meeting to
let residents know what’s going on. He said he’s made several requests to Orr
to appoint at least one member to give the board a quorum, but hasn’t gotten an
answer.
“It’s important that the citizens don’t lose their voice and
power,” Warfield said. “We need the EM to make a decision — either the board is
still in effect or not. And, if not, let’s stop the charade and stop meeting
every week.”
Although the board’s powers are limited under the emergency
manager, Orr spokesman Bill Nowling said it still performs a valuable function.
“I hear the criticism, but just because the board doesn’t
have a quorum, there’s still a process for citizens to air grievances, and for
questions to be asked and looked into,” he said.
Voters approved a civilian Board of Police Commissioners in
1974, with its five members to be appointed by the mayor. Under the new City
Charter that passed the 2012 ballot, the board will have 11 members, seven of
whom will be elected, with the remaining four mayoral appointments.
Regarding the appointment of a board member, Nowling said
Orr is likely to take the same approach he’s taken with City Council members
who’ve abdicated their positions: “He’s chosen not to replace them, and will
let the electoral process take care of that in November,” he said.
Currently, Warfield, Chairwoman Jessica Taylor and Donnell
White are the three board members. When Toney Stewart’s term ended recently, he
was not replaced. The board has been operating for months with only four
commissioners, although that was enough for a quorum.
According to its website, the board’s mission is “to
increase public confidence in the Detroit Police Department by providing
accountability through competent, objective and effective civilian oversight.”
That confidence is eroding, said Ron Scott, director of the
Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, who raised the issue at Thursday’s
board meeting.
“I’ve had it up to here with this dictatorship,” Scott said.
He asked Warfield to hold a hearing to let the public know what the board’s
role is.
“I agree, the idea for a hearing is timely,” Warfield said.
“We’ll schedule that meeting.” No date has been set.
Scott said the board’s denuding has set the city back “all
the way to 1959.”
“Citizen oversight is just that,” Scott said. “That’s not
what’s happening now. If the police commission has been gutted, then all the
reforms that took place are nullified.”