Meet the Candidates
for the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners
November 2025 election.
Date:
Wednesday, September 24
Time:
5:30 – 8:30
Join CPTA and Wayne Law for an evening of dialogue between the community and BOPC candidates to learn where they stand on key issues of police reform, oversight, transparency, and accountability. Light refreshments will be provided.
LEARN MORE
detroitcpta.org
detroitcpta@gmail.com
đź“Ť Wayne Law Partrich Auditorium
471 W Palmer Ave
Detroit Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability
The hearing was adjourned to May 1st. While the outcome of the hearing was non-eventful and disappointing, WDIV reporter Nick Monacelli provided excellent coverage as we can see here:
Family and Activists Demand Justice for Crash Victims Outside Warren Court
When: Thursday March 6th, 2025.
Supporters of victims gather 8:30 AM
Hearing at 9:00 AM
News conference after hearing.
Where: Warren 37th District Court. 8300 Common Rd., Warren, MI 48093.
Warren, Mich. — Family members and activists will gather outside the 37th District Court this Thursday to demand justice for DeJuan Pettis and Cedric Hayden, two men killed in a high-speed crash involving a police cruiser. The rally coincides with a preliminary hearing for Officer James Burke, who faces charges in connection with the deadly collision.
Pettis, 33, and Hayden, 34, lifelong friends, were fatally struck on September 30th last year when Officer Burke’s cruiser collided with their Dodge Durango at approximately 117 mph. According to the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department, Burke and his partner were neither engaged in a high-speed chase nor using lights or sirens to alert other drivers of their speed. The victims’ families have since filed wrongful death lawsuits, and have alleged that Burke failed to apply his brakes before the crash. Both families are being represented by Fieger Law.
In November, the families learned that Burke had been charged with four counts, including manslaughter with a motor vehicle. However, the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office declined to pursue second-degree murder charges, leaving the families frustrated. They also expressed disappointment that the second officer in the vehicle, who could have activated the cruiser’s lights or siren, has not been charged.
As the legal proceedings continue, the families of Pettis and Hayden are pushing for greater accountability and harsher charges against Burke, demanding the justice they believe their loved ones deserve.
Detroit Residents for Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) has joined forces with the Detroit Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability (CPTA). The organizations align on core issues concerning civilian oversight and we are stronger together than we are separately.
This announcement will be expanded on in the near future.
The CPTA is having a gathering on Saturday March 6th.
More information here.
When: Hearing at 1:30 PM News Conference 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM Tuesday September 6th. Where: 36th District Court building 421 Madison Street. Detroit, MI 48226. Trial: Court room” of Honorable E. Lynise Bryant. “Trial” for Case No. 1806106901. Dewayne Berran Jones. Assault and battery case. Why now? Dewayne Jones’ trial is scheduled for 1:30 PM Tuesday. (Also on the 7th 8th and 9th at 10:30 AM)
Detroit, MI –Members of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) and other prominent community members have scheduled a News Conference for 1:00 AM to 1:45 PM so they can comment on the potential outcome of the trial, and to stimulate community awareness of the ongoing case. They will also speak to the need to revise use-of-force training and remove loopholes in the DPD contract that usurps the authority of the Board of Police Commissioners.
On August 10th Judge E. Lynise Bryant granted defense requests to deny comments from emergency room staff on acceptable restraint. “Some of us are concerned that people with expertise on handling difficult patients won’t be heard. Hospital staff are trained in how to restrain patients without punching them or causing injury.” Said DRACO founder Scotty Boman. He went on to say, “This trial is heavily slanted in the defendant’s favor since the victim isn’t allowed to testify. He had that advantage before and was still convicted. Now he gets another bite of that apple.”
Jones was convicted of assault and battery in connection with the beating, but received a promotion to the rank of Sergeant by the Detroit Police Department. His penalty for the assault was probation, but he could still be tried for a felony misconduct charge because it was dismissed without prejudice on January 15th 2019. Activists are calling on Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to reintroduce those charges given the large amount of video evidence that surfaced, and the fact that Jones still had a badge and a gun while on probation.
On April 21st 2021 Jones was granted a new trial.
The remainder of the trial…
Also the trial starts at 10:30 AM on Wednesday through Friday. Depending on what happens Tuesday, we may hold a News Conferece at 1:00 PM Wednesday to comment on what happened earlier in the trial (which may still be going on) likewise on Thursday. We may hold a conference at 10 AM Thursday.
When: Hearing at 1:30 PM News Conference 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM Tuesday September 6th. Where: 36th District Court building 421 Madison Street. Detroit, MI 48226. Trial: Court room” of Honorable E. Lynise Bryant. “Trial” for Case No. 1806106901. Dewayne Berran Jones. Assault and battery case.
Why now? Dewayne Jones’ trial is scheduled for 1:30 PM Tuesday. (Also on the 7th 8th and 9th at 10:30 AM)
Jason Colthorp interviewing DRACO Founder Scotty Boman on August 1. It was election eve. and the 4 year anniversary of Sheldy Smith being beaten.
Detroit, MI –Members of Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight (DRACO) and other prominent community members have scheduled a News Conference for 1:00 AM to 1:45 PM so tey can comment on the potential outcome of the trial, and to stimulate community awareness of the ongoing case. They will also speak to the need to revise use-of-force training and remove loopholes in the DPD contract that usurps the authority of the Board of Police Commissioners.
On August 10th Judge E. Lynise Bryant granted defense requests to deny comments from emergency room staff on acceptable restraint. “Some of us are concerned that people with expertise on handling difficult patients won’t be heard. Hospital staff are trained in how to restrain patients without punching them or causing injury.” Said DRACO founder Scotty Boman. He went on to say, “This trial is heavily slanted in the defendant’s favor since the victim isn’t allowed to testify. He had that advantage before and was still convicted. Now he gets another bite of that apple.”
Jones was convicted of assault and battery in connection with the beating, but received a promotion to the rank of Sergeant by the Detroit Police Department. His penalty for the assault was probation, but he could still be tried for a felony misconduct charge because it was dismissed without prejudice on January 15th 2019. Activists are calling on Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy to reintroduce those charges given the large amount of video evidence that surfaced, and the fact that Jones still had a badge and a gun while on probation.
On April 21st 2021 Jones was granted a new trial.
The founder of DRACO is former District 4 Community Advisory Council Chairperson Scotty Boman. He said, “Dewayne Jones was able to get a promotion in spite of being a convicted violent criminal. In spite of the conviction he wasn’t held accountable. Now he is trying to be exonerated while his victim (Sheldy Smith) remains captive and isolated from her family. This isn’t justice.”
Diane Bukowski of Voice of Detroit posted this video:
DRACO members, NAN members, and Sacred Heart Minister Eric Blount Demanding acountability in the DPD. Literacy activist John Telford in front.
Detroit Residents Advancing Civilian Oversight 