Detroit City Council approves Harvey Santana to police board by 6-2 vote

The Detroit City Council voted 6-2 Tuesday to approve Mayor Mary Sheffield's appointment of former state legislator Harvey Santana to the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners.

Council Members Gabriella Santiago-Romero and Denzel McCampbell voted against the appointment. Council Member Scott Benson was absent. Santana's term began immediately and runs through Sept. 23, 2031.

The board has 11 members. Seven are elected by voters, and four are appointed by the mayor.

Santana participated by phone in the council's formal session and answered questions about his work as a public safety lobbyist and his role as a reserve officer for the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

Santana is the Michigan public safety and government affairs director for Just Safe, a nonprofit registered as a 501(c)(3). He said his lobbying focuses on state-level public safety advocacy for crime survivors, including victims of rape and human trafficking, and on mental health funding and restorative justice initiatives.

"I don't know what would give anyone the impression that I'd do anything less than honorable on the board of police commissioners," Santana said.

He also cited oaths he has taken as a state representative, through a state-level appointment by former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, and with the sheriff's office.

McCampbell said before the vote that police oversight needs independent voices.

"I do believe that conflict is clear," McCampbell said.

During public comment at a previous formal session, activist and former Detroit Public Schools Community District board member Elena Herrada said the board should not include members who are law enforcement or connected to law enforcement.

"It's really hard to believe that there couldn't be one person who could be appointed who are not police officers," Herrada said. "We have a lot of citizens in the city of Detroit who are not police officers. Many of them would be very good candidates."

Public commenter Jacob Smith said Tuesday that Santana has connections to policing and police unions and is backed by groups that want to limit community control of the police.

Santana, 54, told the council's Internal Operations Standing Committee on Sept. 23 that he wanted the unpaid position because public safety is changing and Detroit needs him.

When District 5 Council Member Renata Miller asked Santana whether he hated the police, he replied, "I am the police." He said he served as a sheriff's deputy in the county jail system and has been a reserve officer since 2018.

Santana also said he would hold officers accountable if they step out of line.

"If you're my brother and you're screwing up, you have to deal with the consequences," he said.