DRACO – Page 2 – Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ashley Smith
Victim’s Sister
justice4sheldy@gmail.com
(254) 290-7303
Event video: https://youtu.be/Ber5ZfUMarE
#Justice4Sheldy #JusticeForSheldy

Scotty Boman, D.R.A.C.O. Founder
Phone: (313) 247-2052
scottyboman@hotmail.com

Draco.Life

April 16^th , 2020

D.R.A.C.O. Organizes #Virtual Protest Against Promoting Violent Detroit Police Corporal

Detroit, MI – Members of the victim’s family, and community organizers are outraged by arbitrator George Roumell’s claim that Detroit Police Corporal Dewayne Jones should be promoted to Sergeant, and are resolved to hold a virtual protest at the Board of Police Commissioners (BOPC) meeting this afternoon (April 16^th, 2020). The protest will include statements during the “Oral Communication” portion of the meeting. Dewayne Jones was convicted of assault on March 19^th 2019 in the August 2018 beating Detroit Receiving Emergency Room patient Sheldy Smith.

Smith’s sister Ashley has produced a video to promote the protest. In it she said,

My name is Ashley and I am the sister of the victim in this video. I am a Central Michigan University graduate and a disabled U.S. Army vet. Please join D.R.A.C.O. (Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight), my family, and the residents of Detroit in a virtual protest against the promotion of convicted criminal, Detroit Police Corporal Dewayne Jones.

At their April 9^th meeting Detroit Police Department (DPD) attorney Grant Ha announced the decision by appointed arbitrator George Roumell to promote Corporal Dewayne Jones to the rank of Sergeant. Roumell sent the message to Ha by email, but a Ha said he expected a formal letter to follow. On January 16^th the BOPC voted unanimously to reject the promotion. The Detroit City Charter says all promotions must be approved by the BOPC.

Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) said,

We must make it clear that we don’t recognize any effort by anyone to usurp the Board’s final authority on promotions. It is their duty to instruct the DPD to refrain from this promotion, and to instead, dismiss this bad apple from the company of Detroit’s finest. This may be challenged in court. Insubordinate elements in the DPD may try to defy the Board. It is their duty to take on court challenges and dismiss insubordinates.

The meeting (and thereby the protest) will be via the Zoom meeting app at: https://cityofdetroit.zoom.us/j/397380647?pwd=S1kzVzU4RURFb2NBRGJIb1kwWVNjdz09

By telephone, call one of these numbers:
1 (929) 436-2866, 1 (312) 626-6799, 1 (346) 248-7799,
1 (301) 715-8592, 1 (669) 900-6833, 1 (253) 215-8782
Enter the BOPC Meeting ID 397380647 and press ##

The virtual meeting will use a form for public comments:
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/d26fa38cc5e94a018836d065000714ce

Link to agenda: https://draco4life.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/agendaapril-16-2020.pdf

Detroit Charter, DRACO, Event, Events

At least one commissioner will be at the BOPC meeting. Show up for comments

March 19, 2020March 19, 2020 boman4detroit

Commissioner Willie Burton will be meeting there.
Take a stand for civilian oversight of the police.
Be there: 3:00 PM.
Thursday March 19 in the Michigan Room (The regular BOPC meeting room).

“Detroit police commissioner Willie Burton said he plans to go to Public Safety Headquarters at 3 p.m. Thursday, the usual place and time for weekly board meetings, to protest board chair Lisa Carter’s decision to suspend the meetings for two weeks.

“I’m showing up, and here’s why: we can’t let fear hold us hostage, and we must protect our civil liberties,” Burton said. “This motion was not voted on, and it’s a violation of the Open Meetings Act.”

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/03/17/michigan-public-bodies-balance-virus-fears-open-meetings-act/5061831002/

DRACO, News Release, Police Brutality, Police Commission, Police Community Relations, Uncategorized

Community Activists Condemn Pending Promotion, Promise Consequences

January 14, 2020January 14, 2020 boman4detroit

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact information for all quoted individuals is readily available from…

Scotty Boman, D.R.A.C.O. Founder
Phone: (313) 247-2052
scottyboman@hotmail.com

Draco.Life

January. 14^th , 2020

Community Activists Condemn Pending Promotion, Promise Consequences

Detroit, MI – A coalition of community organizers are outraged by Detroit Police Chief James Craig’s recommendation that Corporal Dewayne Jones be promoted to Sergeant, and are prepared to recall any police commissioner who votes to approve the promotion. Dewayne Jones was convicted of assault on March 19^th 2019 in the August 2018 beating hospital patient Sheldy Smith.

Plans for the promotion were made public at the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting last Thursday at the ACC Youth Center. 62 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48203. Chairperson Lisa Carter read an excerpt of the Chief’s recommendation, to promote Jones to the rank of Sergeant, to attendees as part of her officer’s report. Craig issued the recommendation on January 8^th and cited DPOA Grievance number 18-044 as a factor.

Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) said “I am deeply disturbed by this development and it’s time to put the commissioners on notice. We already have people prepared to initiate the recall process in five of Detroit’s seven districts, and I am confident that we will be ready to recall the other two shortly. Any of the seven district commissioners who votes to promote this person will face a recall.” The five activist are Marilyn Jordan of Detroit People’s Task Force (District #1), Scotty Boman (District #4), Valerie Glenn (District #5), former DPS Board member Elena Herrada (District #6), and Michigan National Action Network board member Lory Parks (District #7).

Marilyn Jordan said, “The suggestion of a promotion for Mr. Jones from our Police Chief sends mixed messages. When we-the-people are faced with lies, corruption, wrongful convictions and falsified evidence – the trust within the community is broken, and will not be restored until the leadership produces integrity!”

Valerie Glenn – Simons said, “As a lifelong resident of the City of Detroit, the widow of a Detroit Police Official, Detroit Police Commissioner monitor and “woman” – I am aggrieved and angry to learn that Corporal Jones has been recommended to be promoted, without being properly reprimanded or fired, because of conducting police malfeasance. Furthermore I am angry and in a state of disbelief that Corporal has been recommended or promoted. How dare you Chief Craig! This should be cause for firing.”

Lory Parks said, “When the Board of Police Commissioners do vote on Officer D. Jones for Sergeant, the vote should be a ‘No!!!’”

Eric Blount said, “The Promotion is a shocking increase in the special treatment Mr. Jones has received at almost every turn. From the judge removing the felony charges – to being lead out the courtroom though the same judge’s chamber – to the silence and secrecy of his employment status whenever questioned – to the Chief’s delay discipline until appeal process is complete (I’ve never heard of this delay reasoning) – to the second video from a police officer surfacing a year later and Chief’s strange comments at the private viewing.”

Minister Fuqua-Bey of Moorish Science Temple #25 said, “”Law enforcement is to serve and protect, not try to break Citizens’s necks.”

Property owner Linda Hegyi, who left the city due to frustration with crime and corruption said, “This is a slap in the face to people suffering from mental illness and the innocent victims of excessive force and brutality by police officers.”

-END-

DRACO, Event, Events, News Release, Police Brutality, Police Commission

Community Activists Sound Off On New Developments in the Police Brutality Case of Dewayne Jones

January 9, 2020 boman4detroit

NEWS ADVISORY FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Scotty Boman, D.R.A.C.O. Founder
Phone: (313) 247-2052
scottyboman@hotmail.com

Draco.Life

Other contact info may be available on request.

Time: 6:00 PM on Thursday January 9^th 2020
Place: ACC Youth Center. 62 W Seven Mile Rd, Detroit, MI 48203

Community Activists Sound Off On New Developments in the Police Brutality Case of Dewayne Jones

Detroit, MI – Representatives of a variety of community organizations will be holding a news conference ahead of the Board of Police Commissioners meeting Thursday night. Activists include Scotty Boman, founder of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO), Lory Parks of the Michigan National Action Network (NAN), and Marilyn Jordan of Detroit People’s Task Force. Eric Blount will be commenting on his impressions of a body cam video that surfaced in August, which very few people have seen.

Activists will be asking the BOPC to open an investigation to find out how and why body cam video from the defendant’s partner remained secret until after the trial. “I want to know who was supposed to gather video evidence, and how he, she or they failed to disclose it.” Said Boman.

The Wayne County Circuit Court granted Corporal Dewayne Jone’s an appeal on November 1^st, so the case has been sent back to the 36^th District Court. The assigned appellate Judge was Cynthia Gray Hathaway, but Michael Hathaway filled in for her, in her absence.

Hathaway’s order called for the 36^th District Court to hold a “Ginther Hearing” within 35 days. The 36^th District Court has not received anything regarding this appeal and has not scheduled any new hearings. The only future hearing scheduled by them is a May 1^st probation review.

DRACO founder Scotty Boman commented, “I don’t know, because I don’t have money to buy transcripts, but I have a feeling that mysterious video that inexplicably surfaced with the DPD in late August counted as “new evidence” which is a standard ground for appeal.” Boman said he left messages for prosecuting attorney David McCreedy for clarification, but did not hear back from him.

The beating victim, Sheldy Smith, was moved to an unknown mental health facility (without notifying family members). Reputed guardianship abuser Mary Rowen has been given control over Sheldy by the courts and has actively been denying family members access to her. Rowen also had custody at the time of the beating.

Keeping the victim hidden and silent works in the favor of Jones, and perhaps that works in favor of Rowan too.

“I see one common purpose behind all of this: The delayed discovery of the video, the delayed appeal process, the drawn out internal investigation, and the Shell game with Sheldy” said Boman, “…to guarantee a comfortable retirement for Corporal Dewayne Berran Jones. Once he retires they will just drop everything and call the case moot. Jones won’t be held accountable.”

-End –

DRACO, Event, facial recgnition technology

Facial Recognition Hearing Event

November 3, 2019November 3, 2019 boman4detroit

Speak out on facial recognition policy!

Wear masks!

Monday November 4th

6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Wayne County Community College District. Eastern Campus
Reginal Training Center Room
5901 Conner St. Detroit, MI 48213

The City Council can support or block the current policy that allows the DPD to use facial recognition technology with legislative action.

This is your chance to let your voices be heard.

At a previous event Councilman Roy McCalister Jr. made it clear that he favored it, and the community showed him they didn’t concur.This is in District 4, so please urge any friends or family from D4 to show up. The more the better, but people from the District vote for their district’s councilman. So it will be in Andre’ Spivey’s interest to pay close attention to his constituents.

Also, word gets back to the at-large council members, if they hear a lot of push back on FRT coming from the district meetings, they best take notice too.

Tell it to the Mayor a the Charter Mandated Meeting

This meeting will be followed by the District 4 Mandated Community Meeting at 7:00 PM… just down the street:

Join Mayor Mike Duggan for a District 4 Chartered Mandated Community Meeting.

Jemison Temple
12530 Mack Ave.
Detroit, MI 48215

The community meeting begins at 7 pm and adjourns promptly at 8:30 pm.

Free parking at the church.

This meeting is part of a series of community meeting as outlined in the 2012 Detroit City Charter.

For more information, please contact Keeley Walker @ (313) 224-3392