Detroit City Council approves Harvey Santana to police oversight board 6-2 despite conflict-of-interest concerns
The Detroit City Council approved Mayor Mary Sheffield's appointment of former state legislator Harvey Santana to the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners by a vote of 6 to 2.
Santana's term begins immediately and runs through Sept. 23, 2031. Council Members Gabriella Santiago-Romero and Denzel McCampbell voted against the appointment. Scott Benson was absent.
The Board of Police Commissioners has 11 members. Seven are elected by voters and four are appointed by the mayor.
Santana joined the council's formal session by phone Tuesday to address concerns about potential conflicts of interest tied to his work as a public safety lobbyist and his role as a reserve officer with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
He is the Michigan public safety and government affairs director for Just Safe, a nonprofit advocacy organization. During his remarks, Santana said his lobbying work focuses on state-level public safety issues, including crime survivors, 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 referenced his background as a former state representative, a state-level appointee under former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, and a sheriff's deputy who has served as a reserve officer since 2018.
McCampbell said before the vote that he believes the board needs independent voices for police oversight. "I do believe that conflict is clear (with Santana)," he told his colleagues.
During public comment at the council's previous formal session, activist and former Detroit Public Schools Community District Member Elena Herrada said the board should not include members who are law enforcement or closely connected to law enforcement.
"It's really hard to believe that there couldn't be one person who could be appointed, or two, or three, or five, or seven, who are not police officers. We have a lot of citizens in the city of Detroit who are not police officers. Many of them would be very good candidates," Herrada said.
Other public commenters echoed those concerns Tuesday. Jacob Smith said Santana has connections to police and police unions. "He's backed by all the forces of the city that want to stifle community control of the police and not strengthen it," Smith said.
Santana said during a Sept. 23 interview before the council's Internal Operations Standing Committee that he wanted the unpaid weekly position because he wanted to be part of the city's public safety efforts.
"Detroit needs me, as I always need Detroit," the 54-year-old city native said.
During that interview, District 5 Council Member Renata Miller asked Santana whether he hated the police. She said board members "have to be fair and neutral in a society that already hates the police," which she called disturbing.
Santana responded, "I am the police." He cited his work as a sheriff's deputy in the county's jail system and his role as a reserve officer. He also pledged to hold officers accountable if they violate standards.
"I'm gonna give it to you straight: If you're my brother and you're screwing up, you have to deal with the consequences. That's all there is to it," Santana said.
