Bay City public safety briefing prompts heated debate over ICE detainers and resolutions
February 17, 2026 | Bay City, Bay County, Michigan
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The Bay City Department of Public Safety delivered a wide-ranging presentation Feb. 16 on law-enforcement philosophy, community programs and policies related to immigration detainers, body-worn cameras, face coverings and translation services. The talk and subsequent public comment led to extended debate over three resolutions about ICE detainers, face coverings, and use of city resources for federal immigration enforcement.
Public Safety Director Rowell (identified in the meeting transcript by his title) outlined the department’s mission and emphasized accreditation standards, crisis-intervention training and outreach programs aimed at people with substance-use disorders. He described a quick-response team that follows nonfatal overdoses with a counselor and family support, and a “hope not handcuffs” initiative that allows people to walk into the department, accept help and — in some cases — have minor warrants deferred so they can enter treatment. Rowell said the department partners with Bay Area Behavioral Health for ride-alongs and other crisis services.
On policy matters he described to the commission, Rowell said Bay City’s public-safety policies include detailed standards on body-worn camera retention, translation services and uniform policy. He told the commission the department does not detain people on immigration detainers and characterized immigration detainers as an unsettled area of law; he repeatedly stressed that local officers enforce crimes under local and state law and that the county jail has operational control over holding decisions.
Commissioners pressed him on the details. Commissioner Runberg and others asked whether the department honors ICE detainer requests (Rowell said no) and about procedures for verifying warrants and distinguishing administrative detainers from judicial warrants (Rowell said the department’s records and laptop systems allow that distinction). Rowell also said the department has partnerships with federal agencies for task-force funding, training and investigative resources, noting the FBI provides important support for specialized investigations and equipment.
After the presentation the commission considered three resolutions introduced by Commissioner Rhumburg. Resolution 1 would prohibit honoring ICE administrative detainers without a judicial warrant; Resolution 2 would restrict use of face coverings by law-enforcement officers in a way designed to preserve identification and transparency; Resolution 3 would affirm local directives prioritizing local public safety and limit city resources used for immigration enforcement (including specifying professional interpretation services and prohibiting use of city funds to support federal immigration enforcement).
The meeting drew a large public turnout and dozens of public commenters: some urged the commission to adopt the resolutions to protect residents and maintain trust in local policing, citing national reports of unlawful ICE detentions; others warned the measures could lead to loss of state or federal funding and to operational conflicts with federal law-enforcement partners. The public record included testimonials from residents and local advocates and several speakers who described fear among mixed-status families.
Commission debate touched on legal risk, collective-bargaining implications for department policies and possible fiscal consequences. Commissioners proposed and discussed amendments (including aligning language with collective-bargaining agreement procedures and modifying reporting requirements). Rather than adopt the presented resolutions as written, the commission referred Resolution 1 to Commissioner Rhumburg for revision and technical alignment, allowed Commissioner Runberg to self-refer Resolution 2 for revision, and similarly referred Resolution 3 for edits and legal alignment. No resolution was adopted in final form on Feb. 16.
The public-safety briefing clarified that, as a practical matter, Bay City’s DPS does not honor administrative ICE detainers and that many of the activities addressed by the resolutions are already covered in department policy; commissioners asked staff to return with revised language that accounts for union contract requirements and implementation details.
Public Safety Director Rowell (identified in the meeting transcript by his title) outlined the department’s mission and emphasized accreditation standards, crisis-intervention training and outreach programs aimed at people with substance-use disorders. He described a quick-response team that follows nonfatal overdoses with a counselor and family support, and a “hope not handcuffs” initiative that allows people to walk into the department, accept help and — in some cases — have minor warrants deferred so they can enter treatment. Rowell said the department partners with Bay Area Behavioral Health for ride-alongs and other crisis services.
On policy matters he described to the commission, Rowell said Bay City’s public-safety policies include detailed standards on body-worn camera retention, translation services and uniform policy. He told the commission the department does not detain people on immigration detainers and characterized immigration detainers as an unsettled area of law; he repeatedly stressed that local officers enforce crimes under local and state law and that the county jail has operational control over holding decisions.
Commissioners pressed him on the details. Commissioner Runberg and others asked whether the department honors ICE detainer requests (Rowell said no) and about procedures for verifying warrants and distinguishing administrative detainers from judicial warrants (Rowell said the department’s records and laptop systems allow that distinction). Rowell also said the department has partnerships with federal agencies for task-force funding, training and investigative resources, noting the FBI provides important support for specialized investigations and equipment.
After the presentation the commission considered three resolutions introduced by Commissioner Rhumburg. Resolution 1 would prohibit honoring ICE administrative detainers without a judicial warrant; Resolution 2 would restrict use of face coverings by law-enforcement officers in a way designed to preserve identification and transparency; Resolution 3 would affirm local directives prioritizing local public safety and limit city resources used for immigration enforcement (including specifying professional interpretation services and prohibiting use of city funds to support federal immigration enforcement).
The meeting drew a large public turnout and dozens of public commenters: some urged the commission to adopt the resolutions to protect residents and maintain trust in local policing, citing national reports of unlawful ICE detentions; others warned the measures could lead to loss of state or federal funding and to operational conflicts with federal law-enforcement partners. The public record included testimonials from residents and local advocates and several speakers who described fear among mixed-status families.
Commission debate touched on legal risk, collective-bargaining implications for department policies and possible fiscal consequences. Commissioners proposed and discussed amendments (including aligning language with collective-bargaining agreement procedures and modifying reporting requirements). Rather than adopt the presented resolutions as written, the commission referred Resolution 1 to Commissioner Rhumburg for revision and technical alignment, allowed Commissioner Runberg to self-refer Resolution 2 for revision, and similarly referred Resolution 3 for edits and legal alignment. No resolution was adopted in final form on Feb. 16.
The public-safety briefing clarified that, as a practical matter, Bay City’s DPS does not honor administrative ICE detainers and that many of the activities addressed by the resolutions are already covered in department policy; commissioners asked staff to return with revised language that accounts for union contract requirements and implementation details.
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