Oversight commission reviews 2023 recommendations; police chief reports several policies updated

The Ann Arbor Independent Community Police Oversight Commission on Jan. 28 reviewed the recommendations in its 2023 annual report and discussed implementation status with Ann Arbor Police Department leaders, including Chief Anderson and Professional Standards staff.

The commission’s chair, identified in the meeting as Chair Carter, opened the discussion by reviewing eight recommendations from the 2023 report and asking department officials to report on progress. Chief Anderson and department staff told commissioners the traffic-stop identification policy has been implemented, that uniform patrol officers have body-worn cameras, and that front-desk telephone lines are recorded. Commissioners continued to press the department for broader access to investigation findings and for clearer redaction rules for materials reviewed by the commission’s information managers.

Why it matters: The commission’s work is oversight-focused, and many of the recommendations affect when and how the commission can review police conduct and evidence. Commissioners said access to recorded material and clear redaction policies are central to their ability to evaluate complaints.

Most important points

• Traffic-stop policy: Sergeant King, of the department’s professional standards section, cited the general traffic stop policy number and recited its language, saying officers “shall greet the motorist in a professional and courteous manner identifying oneself by rank, name, and nature of the stop.” The department said the policy was most recently updated in May (transcript: “since May 0”). Chief Anderson and Sergeant King noted exceptions for emergency or felony stops.

• Hate-group language and hiring: Commissioners discussed whether existing city or departmental rules are sufficient to address officers’ membership in extremist or hate groups. Chief Anderson said the department reviews applicants’ backgrounds and social media and said, “I will not hire someone that's been involved in a hate crime.” Commissioners debated whether an explicit definition of “hate group” is needed for policy enforcement.

• Body-worn cameras and recordings: Commissioners recalled a prior complaint alleging officers on the University of Michigan campus did not have cameras on during protests. Chief Anderson stated that uniformed patrol officers have body-worn cameras and that some assignments (for example, undercover work) are exceptions. Lieutenant Petterlund and Sergeant King explained that most public-facing station phone lines and the main duty/command lines are recorded; other office lines are not routinely recorded but can be used when recording is required.

• Phone recording and evidence: Commissioners urged that access to recorded phone calls be available where relevant to complaint review so that the commission’s information managers are not limited to a single side of a dispute. Lieutenant Petterlund confirmed that “the majority of calls that come in from the public are fielded at our front desk area. That area is either manned by cadets, officers, or command officers. All those lines are recorded.”

• Access to investigation records and redaction policy: Chair Carter framed a policy disagreement about whether the commission, as an oversight body created by city council, should be treated like city officials for Freedom of Information Act purposes or be given broader access to unredacted police investigation records. The commission’s policy committee circulated a draft redaction policy and is continuing discussions with the department and city attorneys.

• Rebuilding school relationships and youth outreach: Commissioners discussed recommendation #7, urging the department to rebuild ties with Ann Arbor Public Schools. Chief Anderson described new outreach efforts (including a “We Care” program and a community policing academy) and said schools have requested more contact.

• Training and mental-health response: The commission reaffirmed a recommendation that officers receive ongoing documented training in de-escalation, disability awareness, cultural sensitivity and response to persons in mental-health crisis. Chief Anderson said department-wide de-escalation training is under way and that the city is exploring co‑response and alternative-response models for mental-health incidents.

• Serious-incident notification: Commissioners added a 2024 recommendation asking the department to notify the commission’s chair when a serious incident—defined in discussions as a shooting or an event causing hospitalization—occurs. Chief Anderson said the department will work on a timeline and a protocol for providing an initial overview to the commission while respecting investigative jurisdiction of outside agencies (for example, Michigan State Police) and the limits of early, often incomplete, information.

Direct quotes (from meeting transcript)

• Chief Anderson, on hiring and social-media checks: “I will not hire someone that's been involved in a hate crime.”

• Sergeant King, describing the traffic-stop policy: “Officers shall greet the motorist in a professional and courteous manner identifying oneself by rank, name, and nature of the stop. An exception is if the circumstance of the stop is impractical such as a felony stop or some sort of dynamic situation like that.”

• Chair Carter, on access to records: “How do you oversee what you can't see?”

What the commission directed or decided

• The policy committee and the outreach/training committees will continue drafting and refining the redaction policy, training recommendations, and school‑engagement plans; no new binding directive was adopted at this meeting beyond continuing those committee workstreams.

Next steps and outstanding questions

• The commission’s policy committee will circulate a redaction-policy revision for review. Chair Carter and committee chairs said they expect a draft of the 2024 annual report language to be circulated to commissioners in the coming days.

• Chief Anderson said the department will provide documentation about school outreach, the new “We Care” program, and a timeline for the serious‑incident notification protocol.

Ending note: Commissioners and department leaders said they expect ongoing, joint work over the year on training, records access, and mental‑health response models.