ANN ARBOR, MI — Although there is much uncertainty in the world, Stefani Carter stated she is certain about one thing: The connection between the Ann Arbor Police Department and the community is stronger than it has been in a long time.
“Without a doubt, that’s how I remember it,” she said.
Carter, who has led the city’s Independent Community Police Oversight Commission since 2023, is resigning as her term concludes on May 31. She delivered some final remarks to the City Council on Monday evening, May 4.
Having previously served as a Washtenaw County assistant prosecutor and as the city attorney for Ann Arbor, and being the mother of a Black son, I have had numerous interactions with police officers,” she stated. “In my view, the Ann Arbor Police Department seems significantly better—much better than it has ever been.
City Council established a community-driven review board in 2018 following years of community unrest and protestFollowing the 2014 fatal shooting of Aura Rosser, a Black woman. She was killed by an Ann Arbor police officer when she allegedly approached officers with a knife during a domestic conflict on the western part of the city.
One of the key actions taken by Ann Arbor’s police oversight commission was suggesting that the city appoint Andre Anderson as police chief in 2023, according to Carter.
Anderson, who is of African American descent, was inaugurated as chief in February 2024 and has assisted the department in introducing new policies such asthe city’s equal driving lawfocused on reducing racial bias during traffic stops. He has implemented substantial positive changes within the department, Carter stated.
Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who was found guilty of killing George Floyd in 2021, was seen as very well-trained, according to Carter. What this indicates is that culture has more influence than training, and it doesn’t matter how much training officers receive if the culture within the police department is poor, she explained.
“I am convinced that Chief Anderson is transforming the culture within the Ann Arbor Police Department, and for this, we are extremely thankful,” Carter stated.
The review board has maintained a positive working dynamic with the department during Anderson’s tenure, she mentioned, giving him credit for supporting community supervision.
Anderson stated that when law enforcement is subject to significant oversight, it allows officers to carry out their duties with the confidence of the community they serve, understanding that police procedures have been examined and endorsed by those responsible for providing oversight on behalf of the community, Carter noted.
That is what the review committee has attempted, she stated, and she is certain it will keep happening.
Mayor Christopher Taylor expressed appreciation for Carter’s efforts during her three-year tenure as chair, noting that she will be missed.
Carter mentioned that she submitted copies of the oversight commission’s 2025 report to the city clerk just before speaking to the council.
The committee had previously submitted a40-page report2025 complaints directed at law enforcement and their results in January.
The commission is currently recommending that the council provide money for a new police records management system.
We believe it’s significant,” Carter stated. “And we’ve observed, when reviewing complaints, how false, delayed, or incorrect information can result in issues.
Carter also informed the council that she has confidence in the commission’s new leadership. She suggested at the commission’s meeting on April 28 that Vice Chair Mohammad Othman become the new chair and Commissioner Rodrick Green, who is the pastor at New Hope Baptist Church, take the position of vice chair. However, because there wasn’t enough members present, the commission was unable to proceed with a vote.
Four terms are about to conclude, and there are three open positions, so the commission has also been exploring methods to attract more community members to join the 13-person group.
The commission is encouraging community members who are interested in its initiatives to attend its annual social justice symposium at New Hope Baptist Church, located at 218 Chapin St., on May 19. According to the city’s schedule, this event is categorized as a special commission work session beginning at 5 p.m., but Carter mentioned that the symposium will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. It will include a presentation by Anderson about his experiences after the police shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed Black man in Ferguson, Missouri.
Anderson was brought to Ann Arbor partly due to his experience as the interim head of the Ferguson Police Department, which he took over following a federal review that found the department had been infringing on the rights of Black residents.
“He was summoned there due to the kind of person he is, capable of handling such a scenario,” Carter stated.
Carter expressed her wish that Ann Arbor continues to maintain its dedication to public supervision of police activities.
“You know, I often think about the term ‘law enforcement’ and I wonder what it would be like today if, instead of calling it law enforcement, we referred to it as community protection and called the people who work there the CPs, the community protectors,” she said.
I believe we would view matters in a different way and maybe they would perceive the community in a new light.
Carter mentioned that the initial police departments in America during the 1800s operated as slave catchers.
“Who would pursue African American individuals and take them south, regardless of whether they had been enslaved or not,” she stated.
That’s where we began. We’ve come a long way since then, thank goodness.
Looking for more news from the Ann Arbor region? Save thelocal Ann Arbor news site.
©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Go to mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
