Scotty Boman - Candidate for Police Commissioner - District 4

1) Citizen complaints require timely and fair adjudication to build trust. What is your strategy to address this long-standing issue and expedite the resolution process?

Response: The current backlog, some cases as old as three years, is unacceptable and undermines public confidence. Every complaint represents a Detroit resident who took the time to speak up. We owe them a timely, thorough, and transparent review process. As Police Commissioner, my first step will be to call for a full audit of the Office of the Chief Investigator (OCI) to determine the scope of the delay and identify operational choke points.

Next, I will push for an immediate budget review to prioritize resources for additional trained staff, modern case-tracking systems, and support for investigators. Speed should never come at the cost of quality, so I’ll work to ensure staff have the tools and training they need to be both efficient and fair. I’ll also advocate for public reporting on complaint resolution times, so the public can track progress, not just hear promises.

Other factors being equal, I’ll demand that we clear the oldest cases first. A complaint unresolved for years is justice denied. Timely and fair adjudication isn't just policy; it's a statement that civilian voices matter. I will ensure those voices are not buried in bureaucracy.

2) Binding arbitration, such as under Public Act 312, can influence disciplinary actions. What is your perspective on its impact on effective decision-making within the department?

Response: Binding arbitration under Public Act 312 can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it exists to protect the rights of public employees, including police officers. But when arbitration consistently results in overturned disciplinary decisions, especially in cases involving misconduct, it undermines the authority of civilian oversight and weakens the department’s ability to maintain accountability.

As Police Commissioner, I will push for greater transparency around arbitration outcomes and advocate for contract language that affirms the supremacy of the Detroit City Charter, as required by law. No contract should allow the Charter’s civilian oversight provisions to be undermined.

We need to work with unions in good faith, but we also need the public to have confidence that misconduct won’t be swept under the rug by a process they can’t see and don’t control. Arbitration should not be a backdoor for erasing disciplinary actions. I support efforts at the state and local level to reform binding arbitration in a way that respects due process but ensures real accountability.

In short, arbitration must be fair, but it cannot become a shield for repeat misconduct or a loophole that silences civilian oversight.

3) Civilian oversight is essential for accountability, yet recent challenges—like unfilled positions and disqualifications—highlight gaps. For example, in one district, no one filed, and seven candidates were disqualified from various districts. Additionally, five of the districts will not have a primary, as there are only two candidates on the ballot.

How would you strengthen the efficacy of the elected Board of Police Commissioners and ensure robust civilian leadership?

Response:

[Correction: District 6 is the only district that will have two candidates for Police commissioner on the ballot]

Civilian oversight only works if the Board of Police Commissioners is composed of engaged, independent, and informed members who reflect the communities they serve. The recent wave of disqualifications and potentially unfilled seats exposes systemic problems that must be addressed if we want effective leadership.

In districts where candidates failed to make the ballot they can still run as write-in candidates, so someone will almost certainly be elected to every seat. However, later filing deadlines would result in candidates since it is very difficult to petition in near freezing weather.

In the rare case in which nobody is elected, appointees can temporarily fill vacant elected seats until the next election. This ensures that residents never go unrepresented and that quorum issues don’t cripple the Board’s ability to function.

We must invest in public awareness and civic education so residents understand the power and responsibility of this office. Too few people know what the Police Commission does—yet it’s the primary mechanism for public accountability over law enforcement in Detroit.

We need Commissioners who are independent (not rubber stamps)and who show up, speak up, and stand up for their communities. I’ll continue doing just that, whether elected or not, but with your vote I’ll be doing it from the inside.