Board of Police Commisioners - October 2, 2025

Call to order

The meeting was called to order at 3:14 pm due to a quorum not being met. While the commissioners present waited, they took public comment.

Roll Call

Eva Garza Dewaelsche (Chair)

Darryl Woods (Vice Chair)

Tamara Smith (District 1)

Linda Bernard (District 2)

Cedric Banks (District 3), absent

Willie Bell (District 4)

Willie Burton (District 5), tardy

Lisa Carter (District 6), absent

Ricardo Moore (District 7), absent

Robert Jones (At-large)

The approval of the meeting's agenda and the previous meeting's minutes were moved by Commissioner Jones and Woods.

BOPC Officers’ Report by Chair Eva Garza Dewaelsche

An Oath Administration and Badge Presentation was given for Investigator Toiya Lawrence by Commissioner Dewaelsche.

Chief of Police Report by Deputy Chief Kari Sloan

Deputy Chief Sloan began her report by saying the trend of decreasing crime in Detroit has continued, with this year’s rate of homicides, non-fatal shootings, and violent crime being down from last year's. She then discussed notable incidents of the week, mentioning a shooting at Rosa Parks Transit Center and a fatal hit-and-run accident on the east side. Sloan also mentioned a partnership with DPD and the DEA to introduce prescription drug drop-boxes for citizens to dispose of unused prescriptions safely. The boxes are located at every precinct. Sloan concluded her report by discussing past and upcoming events with DPD, including Walk A Mile Wednesday, Chief Bettison’s involvement with an upcoming community investment breakfast, and a DPD-sponsored karaoke and bingo seniors night on October 14th.

Public Comments

Bernice Smith began public comment, raising concerns about President Trump sending the National Guard and federal agents to Detroit following intensifying immigration crackdowns in Chicago. She also urged the community to practice de-escalation when it comes to gun violence in the city.

Bridea Butler echoed Smith’s concerns, stating that she worries the National Guard will be deployed in Detroit after the mayoral election in November when the city will no longer have a white mayor. Butler also mentioned Whitmer’s opposition to National Guard deployment following offers from the Trump administration to do so, as well as Trump’s recent speech to senior military personnel expressing his desire to use “dangerous cities as training grounds for our military National Guard” as additional reasons for her concern.

The next speaker claimed a Detroit Police officer was murdered two weeks ago on Delaware Street, which Deputy Chief Sloan denied ever occurring.

Another speaker voiced his concern about a vacant and unboarded house on 19187 Cardoni Street, Highland Park. Deputy Chief Sloan said the issue would be addressed

Anne Byrne, President of the Springdale Woodmere Block Club, discussed the recent Southwest neighborhood truck ordinance, saying that she wanted to recognize Fourth Precinct Captain Starr Gonzales for being proactive in giving officers the proper training on truck laws. She continued by urging the Police Academy to add hazmat training after stating a truck carrying a class two hazmat gas tank crashed into a viaduct in the Southwest neighborhood.

The final speaker, a member of the Detroit Active & Retired Employee Association, said that he hoped the Board could become a better resource for disseminating information.

Report from Board Secretary Lydia Garnier

Secretary Garnier discussed the meeting’s announcements, which included this month's BPOC Community Meeting on October 9 at 6:30 pm at the Considine Center and a policy committee meeting on October 14 at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters at 5 pm. Garnier also mentioned that the October 30 BOPC meeting will likely be cancelled due to the staff and board attending the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Conference from October 26-30.

Commissioner Dewaelsche asked if there were any further comments, to which Sloan stated that the house on Cardamoni Street previously mentioned during public comment is being boarded up.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:39 pm.