Created Equal: New report raises questions about nonfatal police shootings in Detroit

It’s always significant when police decide to use lethal force against the citizens they’ve sworn to protect. But a new investigative report by the Detroit Free Press suggests in some cases, that lethal force is being deployed against people who aren’t committing prosecutable crimes.

In nearly a third of non-fatal shootings by Detroit police in a recent seven-year period, the victims were either not charged with a crime or not convicted of the conduct officers said prompted them to fire their weapon, the report found.

The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners is supposed to play a formalized role in police accountability as it is not directly overseen by the Detroit Police Department. However, Board Chair Reverend QuanTez Pressley says discipline within the department is complicated by the fact that internal investigations are carried out by the Michigan State Police, and not on a local level.  

Pressley joined Stephen Henderson on Created Equal on Wednesday, along with Detroit Board of Police Commissioners Member At Large Darryl Woods, to discuss the Detroit Free Press report and its findings.

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Guests:

Reverend QuanTez Pressley is the chair of the Board of Police Commissioners. He says the findings in the report are “concerning, but not surprising.” 

Darryl Woods is a member at large for the Board of Police Commissioners. He says holding bad actors within the department accountable can be more difficult than it sounds.

“I think the chief probably has a couple bad actors on the force he wishes he could get rid of,” said Woods.

Listen to Created Equal with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.