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Residents and commissioners press for independent review after Prospect/West Cross incidents
Summary
Public commenters and members of the Ypsilanti Police Advisory Commission pushed for an independent third‑party investigation and updates to mutual aid agreements after recent multi‑agency incidents; Chief Tim Anderson said he will forward an after‑action report to the city manager within 30–60 days.
Several residents and commissioners at the Ypsilanti Police Advisory Commission meeting on Feb. 26 urged officials to pursue an independent investigation and to update mutual aid agreements after recent incidents that involved multiple law‑enforcement agencies.
A long public comment criticized past citizen review panels as having “no teeth” and said the current advisory body lacks enforcement power to hold agencies accountable. “You just get information,” the commenter said, arguing the commission’s findings historically amount to secondhand reports to council. The chair identified that speaker afterward as Lee.
Commissioners and community members recounted a Jan. 12 community meeting convened with the mayor, the city manager, Chief Anderson, the sheriff’s office and other regional officials that drew about 40 residents. Participants said the meeting highlighted divergent perspectives from people who live near the scene and underscored the need for more transparent information and a broader independent review.
Chief Anderson said he is completing an after‑action report and intends to send it to the city manager within 30–60 days. He told the commission the department is managing about 95 video recordings related to the incident and that thorough review requires substantial staff time while calls for service continue.
Officials and residents discussed mutual aid agreements that predate recent operational practices — one attendee noted agreements “from like 1989” — and raised questions about which agency holds tactical command during multi‑jurisdictional responses and how state statute interacts with local requesting jurisdictions. Commissioners asked the city to obtain mutual‑aid and SWAT/CNT policy documents from county partners for comparison and to consider funding a third‑party review with county participation.
The commission did not adopt a formal resolution at the Feb. 26 meeting, but members and several residents said they would press the city council and county officials to pursue a jointly funded, independent investigation into tactical decisions and command structure during the incidents.
