Detroit committee removes disruptive caller, asks law and police to draft conduct guidance

During its Internal Operations Committee meeting, the Detroit City Council chair recessed the session and ordered the removal of a virtual public commenter after a string of aggressive accusations and profanity that the chair described as a "breach of the peace." Committee members said the incident—one of several recent disruptions—prompted a request for the Law Department and Detroit Police Department (DPD) to provide guidance on managing unruly public comment.

Committee members said the removal followed a caller who identified themselves in the record as "Black Bag" and made repeated accusations against council representatives, alleging cover-ups and threatened legal action. After the chair interrupted the remarks and staff cut the caller's audio, the meeting was briefly recessed and then reconvened. The clerk re-called the roll to confirm a quorum.

Council member Scott Benson said he wants the Law Department to revisit an earlier opinion about the council's authority to bar disruptive commenters permanently. "I'd like to revisit that based on today's behavior," Benson said, adding later, "I'd like to start maintaining a record of times and dates of poor behavior by our public commenters." Benson urged that the body treat residents respectfully while also holding people accountable when conduct escalates.

Graham Anderson of the Law Department told the committee the office would prioritize a revised written opinion once committee business concluded. Anderson also summarized the department's view in a separate context about police-representation items: "In the opinion of the law department and the Detroit Police Department, the officers were acting in a good-faith performance of their duties," remarks members cited when consolidating indemnification items.

Members requested two concrete follow-ups: (1) a Law Department memo, to be delivered promptly, describing what conduct the council can prohibit or regulate in public meeting spaces and (2) assistance from DPD and the Detroit Health Department on mental-health resources and processes for when a public commenter displays signs of distress. The chair asked the law department to provide a draft signage template the committee could post outside meeting rooms listing prohibited behaviors.

The committee did not vote on a permanent ban during the meeting; instead members directed staff and legal counsel to prepare the written guidance and report back. The meeting resumed agenda business after the memo request was recorded and the public comment period concluded.

The committee is scheduled to receive the requested law department memo and related information from DPD and the health department; no final policy change on permanent bans was made during this session.