Detroit voters created a board of civilian commissioners in 1974 with the power to investigate their own police department. Eleven members. Its own staff of investigators.

Since May, those investigators can no longer pull body camera video themselves. The cops can edit the footage and decide what’s relevant. 

Victoria Camille represents District Seven on the oversight board. She’s circulating a petition to get that access back. And Thursday afternoon, she was prepared to vote on whether Detroiters can still speak to her board from home.

Commissioner Camille spoke with The Metro‘s Robyn Vincent about what the police oversight board can actually do to hold cops accountable and whether some of its power has weakened.

Editor’s Note: After this segment aired, the motion to limit public comment options to solely in-person attendees was rescinded. 

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

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The post The Metro:  Is Detroit’s police oversight board able to hold cops accountable? appeared first on WDET 101.9 FM.

A union representing hundreds of Wayne County sheriff’s deputies has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed for U.S. Senate, giving the progressive Democrat an answer to opponents who have sought to portray him as hostile to law enforcement.

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The post Ex-Melvindale cop gets jail time in excessive force cases appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.

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The post Venezuelan student-athlete built a life in metro Detroit before ICE agents boxed in her car and detained her appeared first on Detroit Metro Times.