Detroit Police Commissioner Derrick Sanders dies unexpectedly over weekend

By Gus Burns fburns@mlive.com

Detroit Police Commissioner Derrick B. Sanders, 59, died unexpectedly Saturday, March 31.

Sanders, who worked as a business agent and trustee for the Operating Engineers 324 labor union, began serving as an at-large member of the police commission in December 2015 after being appointed by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

The Detroit Police Commission is a civilian oversight board comprised of four appointed and seven elected members tasked with guiding department policy, spending and investigating citizen complaints, among other duties.

“Commissioner Sanders brought a unique perspective to his role and duties as a board member and as chair of the budget subcommittee,” Commission Chair Lisa Carter said Monday, April 2. “To him, the numbers on a spreadsheet were people and equipment needed to provide our city with the best level of public safety.

“Our officers and residents knew him because he went to every precinct and rode along on patrols to personally see the cars, the body-worn cameras, and all the other equipment and tools; it was part of his way of making sure police officers had what they needed to do their jobs.”

An official cause of death hasn’t been provided, but a commission spokeswoman said Sanders died of “natural causes.”

Sanders brought “many sharp, common-sense contributions” to Detroit and “we will miss his smile, his style and his ability to always put people first,” Carter said said.

With the loss of Sanders, there are currently three open seats on the Detroit Police Commission requiring mayoral appointments.

Statement issued by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan:

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Derrick Sanders, who served our city as an at-large member of the Board of Police Commissioners. Before his time with the Board, I got to know Derrick through his work as an office holder with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324, where he was a tireless advocate for training and job opportunities to Detroiters. I was honored to consider Derrick a friend and will miss him. His passing is a great loss to our community.

Dan McKernan, a spokesman for the Operating Engineers 324 labor union, says Sanders has been a union members for 25 years, an employee for 15 years and an elected trustee for 11 years.

According to McKernan, a visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 6, at Swanson Funeral Home, 14751 W. McNichols in Detroit. A funeral service is scheduledto begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7, also at Swanson Funeral Home.

According to Sanders’ Detroit Police Commission bio:

Derrick B. Sanders has held positions on the City of Detroit Water Board and the Detroit Public Schools Oversight Committee. He has been a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 324 since 1993 and currently serves as a Business Representative and Trustee for the Local. Commissioner Sanders is a lifelong resident of the City of Detroit. He gives back to his community by serving on various Boards within the City, including the Detroit Economic Growth Board and his current service on the Wayne County Joint Authority Board. Mayor Mike Duggan appointed him as one of four at-large members of the Board of Police Commissioners.