Detroit Police Commissioners Meeting - September 17, 2026

The September 17, 2026 meeting of the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners included public comments urging a pause on AI surveillance trailers and ALPR technology. Commissioners asked about the status of a ShotSpotter efficacy study; the chief said the department was discussing a comprehensive study with the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, with a data-sharing agreement being developed. The board secretary said scheduling for a public hearing on the mobile surveillance trailer specification report remained under discussion. The chief also reported suspending an officer with pay pending an investigation into an alleged improper Flock license-plate-reader query. Department officials said vendor contracts restrict sharing city data with third parties and that access to camera data is controlled through data-sharing agreements. No surveillance-technology procurement decision or contract award was made.

The board received the DPD’s FY2026 fourth-quarter financial report. For the full fiscal year, General Fund revenue was about $93.5 million against an $86 million budget, while expenditures were about $434.3 million against $436.6 million, a reported surplus of approximately $2.2 million. The quarter’s vehicle report listed three purchases: a light-duty truck, a boat trailer, and watercraft. Capital-improvement entries included placeholder requests that had not yet been approved or completed through procurement channels; staff agreed to provide a breakdown of roughly $40,000 associated with DDC Building 500. A commissioner also requested grant conditions and spending information on missing-person investigations and surveillance technology. The board approved two police promotions and passed a vote of confidence in the chief; no procurement award or purchasing motion was identified.