The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting blew over after one of the commissioners, Willie Burton, was arrested after being ruled out of order Thursday night. Burton brought up the potential installation of facial recognition cameras in the city before being handcuffed by several Detroit police officers.

According to Fox 2 Detroit, three protestors also attended the meeting in opposition to the installation, but only Burton was arrested.

Commission Chair Lisa Carter was sworn in at the time to testify during what was supposed to be a normal meeting of the commission where facial recognition technology was not on the agenda. According to WXYZ Carter feels that much of Burton's antics were a show for the cameras.

"If you throw me out of office, you are disenfranchising 100,000 voters in the 5th District, do not touch me," Burton reportedly yelled before he was arrested.

Things got heated tonight at the. detroit Police Commissioners meeting. Commissioner Willie Burton arrested after the Chair asked him to be removed. pic.twitter.com/ynuw0OPeEQ

— ALAN CAMPBELL (@AlanCampbellTV) July 12, 2019

The Chair told the commissioner his time for comment was over. He said he wasn’t done, that’s when she asked him to be removed pic.twitter.com/QuKyxiJJ1m

— ALAN CAMPBELL (@AlanCampbellTV) July 12, 2019

The topic of facial recognition technology has been more important in Detroit and throughout Michigan recently. State Rep. Isaac Robinson introduced legislation Wednesday to place a five-year moratorium on the use of the technology.

"There needs to be a discussion on where the limits are and how the technology is used," Robinson told the Metro Times. "We need to discuss civil liberties and make sure local governments aren't overreaching."

A separate Metro Times report stated the Detroit Police Department has been using a sophisticated facial recognition system without the approval of the city’s Board of Police Commissioners for two years. The technology allowed Detroit Police to identify and track residents by capturing their images on many private and public high-definition cameras located in schools, parks, fast food restaurants, among other places, according to the Metro Times report.

After the arrest, Burton was bailed out by another commissioner for the amount of $100, according to Fox 2.

Burton has been an opponent of the use of the technology for some time. In June, he told the Metro Times that the public should have the opportunity to reject or approve the use.

"The public has a right to weigh in,” Burton told the Metro Times after they exposed the unapproved use of the technology. “This is being forced on people. The public was never notified.”

Fox 2 reports that a court date for Burton will be set for later this month.

Commissioner-Willie-Burton

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