The city’s abuse watchdog agency says the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners should create clearer guidelines on the scope of police commissioners’ duties and abilities to use their badges at active police scenes.
The recommendations from Detroit’s Office of Inspector General stem from an investigation into claims that District 3 Police Commissioner Darious Morris interfered in an active police investigation during an April “teen takeover” at Royal Skateland. The OIG found that Morris did not abuse his authority when he used his ceremonial police commissioner badge to access the active police scene and intervene in a confrontation between Detroit police officers and local youth.
The OIG’s office found that, by physically engaging with the crowd on an active scene, Morris had exceeded the scope of his City Charter-defined authority as “administrative civilian oversight,” versus law enforcement. But, “his actions do not rise to the level of abuse because neither the BOPC nor DPD have policies governing whether police commissioners can engage in active police matters.” Additionally, officers on scene explicitly asked for his help, the OIG found. The OIG’s office is responsible for rooting out waste, fraud, abuse and corruption.
The OIG recommended that both the BOPC and Detroit police establish “clear policy guidelines and corresponding training” about BOPC’s role at “active scenes.” The OIG also recommended that the BOPC create a badge policy — including for general use and at active police scenes — as well as “clear policies and procedures outlining commissioners’ roles based on their charter duties.”
Morris, in an interview conducted by the OIG, stated that none of the officers on the scene objected to his involvement while he engaged the crowd at the skating rink. The officers, the report notes, “were similarly focused on managing the situation and later shook his hand to thank him for his assistance.”
Morris told the OIG’s office that while he lacks formal training in crowd management, he has a decade of practical experience handling crowd dispersal. He also holds a certification in conflict resolution, which supports his work as a youth mentor, and he utilizes de-escalation techniques to resolve disputes.
Morris told BridgeDetroit Friday that he felt compelled to intervene during the April incident, given his history, which includes hostile actions against a police officer. He said intervening when asked for help had to do with being a “decent human being,” as well as understanding the consequences the young people might have faced if the situation escalated.
“I don’t want them (the kids) to go down the path that I went down,” Morris said. “And so, I intervened, not only in the best interest of the officer, but in the best interest of the kids as well.”
Based on the interviews with Detroit police officers and body camera footage, the OIG confirmed Morris did identify himself as a member of the police board with a badge and he did display it to enter the scene.
In a previous investigation, the OIG recommended that the BOPC adopt a policy outlining the appropriate use of BOPC credentials.
“We could not confirm whether such a policy was developed,” the report reads.
BOPC Chair Robert Jones declined to comment Friday on the OIG investigation into Morris’ conduct as well as whether he is considering the OIG’s recommendations for badge use policy and training.
District 7 Commissioner Victoria Camille said she hasn’t taken her badge out of its packaging since becoming a commissioner in January, but thinks a policy would be useful for both BOPC and the police department. She said she would be willing to draft a policy, but would want to make sure it would not prevent commissioners from being able to perform their duties in the community.
According to Camille, in addition to the commissioners, both the BOPC secretary and chief investigator receive badges.
“I’m not sure what that policy should look like just yet, but I do think that documenting some clarity would be helpful to all parties,” she said.
