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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-18-2022 Board of Police Commissioners “Capital City’s Finest” Lansing Police Department Board of Police Commissioners 120 West Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 483-6040 Fax: (517) 483-4617 BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, January 18, 2022 Location: Lansing Police Department, Headquarters, 120 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 The Board of Police Commissioners met in regular session and meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chairperson Patty Farhat. Present: Commission Members Carnegie, Farhat, Jones, Lopez, McDermitt and Milton. Commissioner Abood arrived after meeting was in progress. Excused: Commissioner Brewster Also Present: Chief Ellery Sosebee, Assistant City Attorney Mary Bowen, CI Delvata Moses, and Ruth Grant Roll call was taken, and quorum was present. Chairperson Farhat asked for a moment of silence for recent homicide victims, for retired LPD officer Mathies and for Betty Draher and Dayle Benjamin who both had been active members of the Neighborhood Watch Program and were longstanding supporters of Lansing Police. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Milton. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: Vote to excuse Commissioner Brewster from this meeting. Motion made by Chair Farhat and seconded by Vice-Chair Jones. Approved to Excuse: 6 (Commissioner Carnegie, Farhat, Jones, Lopez, McDermitt and Milton). Disapprove: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Moved by Chair Farhat to approve and place on file the December 21, 2021, Board of Commissioners minutes of meeting. Motion carried by Commissioner Milton with Commissioner Jones seconding the motion. Yeas: 6 (Carnegie, Farhat, Lopez, Jones, McDermitt and Milton) Nays: None EDUCATION PRESENTATION: None. “Capital City’s Finest” Lansing Police Department Board of Police Commissioners 120 West Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 483-6040 Fax: (517) 483-4617 ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Chief Ellery Sosebee • Chief thanked the Board for approving him as chief of police, their support and he looks forward to working with them and the city. • Chief took part in a meeting with local media outlets to discuss future expectations and information sharing between the entities. • The chief is in the process of crafting a version of the daily log report of calls for service within a 24-hr span with generic information on certain calls for reference. • Annual training day is in progress. Chief spoke at training giving his expectations and vision as chief of police. He gave ABLE training also called Active Bystander Law Enforcement, for when interacting with citizens to deactivate situations with bystanders or other officers. Officers will also receive micro- aggression training and cultural competency and awareness training. • The new business cards are being implemented gradually due to the expense. • LPD is partnering with the FBI on Human Trafficking Task Force. A detective from LPD and Ingham Co Sheriff will be on the task force investigating juvenile and adult human trafficking complaints and tips in Ingham County. • Hiring: For 2021 there were 18 new police officers hired; 13 males, 5 females, 10 white, 5 African American and 2 Asians. This puts LPD well above the national average for law enforcement. • Walter Doherty, chief electronic equipment technician is retiring after 16 years and has agreed to stay on until replacement is found and trained. A supervisor for the Social Worker supervisor has been hired and will start January 24th. Social Worker Jan Bidwell has resigned for personal reasons and for other endeavors. Jan helped get the LPD social worker program up and running and her hard work has been greatly appreciated by LPD. The social worker position has been posted and hope to have another social worker starting soon. NEW BUSINESS: None. LEGAL AND ADVISOR REPORT: Assistant City Attorney Mary Bowen • OCA reports jury trials are suspended for 54-A District court, 55th District court in Mason, Circuit and Probate courts until February 14 due to the pandemic. OCA appreciates all Lansing Police officers being proactive in attending trials and hearings. • In response to negotiations between FOP and city immunity clause for response to resistance question, Ms. Bowen is not privy to labor management union negotiations as she is a member of a bargaining unit Suggests the question should be presented to Human Resources. HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT: No report. UNFINISHED BUSNESS: • Commissioner Lopez presented the Board’s 2022 meeting schedule with additional locations. The schedule was put up for a vote to approve the 2022 outside meeting locations; Commissioner Farhat entertained a motion, carried by Commissioner Carnegie with Commissioner Jones seconding. Yeas: 6 (Carnegie, Farhat, Jones, Lopez, McDermitt and Milton) Nays: 0 “Capital City’s Finest” Lansing Police Department Board of Police Commissioners 120 West Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 483-6040 Fax: (517) 483-4617 • Quarterly Reports to Public Safety: Commissioner Lopez will call a meeting with committees to define a reporting format to provide to Public Safety. The first presentation to the Public Safety would be early February. • Commissioner Carnegie asked to make LPD pamphlets to Lansing School District counseling centers regarding Citizen Complaint Process and Internal Affairs available. Per Chief Sosebee, these pamphlets were delivered to LSD and should have been posted. He will follow up as will Commissioner Carnegie. CORRESPONDANCE SENT AND RECEIVED: • Commissioner Farhat received an exceptionally nice letter from an 8th grader at Waverly Schools on sidewalk safety concerns when walking to and from school. The letter will be shared with Waverly School District. DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Moved by Chairperson Farhat to accept and place on file. Motion carried by Commissioner Jones and seconded by Commissioner McDermitt. Yea: 7 (Abood, Carnegie, Farhat, Jones, Lopez, McDermitt and Milton) Nays: None BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS: • Budget Committee: Commissioner Carnegie – No report. Appreciates the support from board in compiling the budget. • Government/Community Liaison Committee: Commissioner Lopez – Will meet to prepare reports for the Public Safety reports to City Council. • Awards & Incentives Committee: Commissioner Farhat – No report however they will soon be starting to work on the awards. • Ad Hoc Committee on Board Policies and Rules: Commissioner McDermitt – No report. Commissioner Carnegie suggested Admin policy 200.04 wording be reviewed and update if necessary. • Complaint Committee: Chairperson Farhat – Internal Affairs will be unavailable due to training and vacations. They will plan to meet in February. • Recruitment and Hiring Committee: Commissioner McDermitt – o Police Recruits: 8 started January 3rd. o Social Worker Supervisor: Start January 24th. The police social worker position has been posted. o Radio Lab: The chief radio engineer position was posted January 12th and will close on January 19th. Currently there are no applicants and date will be extended another six days. o Patrol Division administrative assistant candidate is in background. o Detention: There is 1 male officer position, and one candidate is in background. 2 female vacant positions are expected soon. o FOIA analyst – 1 vacancy with two recommended in background. o Payroll tech – 1 vacancy and recommended candidate is in pre-employment physical step. “Capital City’s Finest” Lansing Police Department Board of Police Commissioners 120 West Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 483-6040 Fax: (517) 483-4617 o Certified/Certifiables: 2 new police officers hired on January 3rd with 1 pending hire for January 31st. Commission Investigator Delvata Moses: For month of December, received 3 complaints, 2 formal, 1 informal. Of the formal, one was investigated and closed. In December no complaints went to Chief Sosebee for the matrix. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: • Commissioner Abood: Apologized to the Board for being late. Inquired if the police officer recently involved in an auto accident was okay. Chief Sosebee confirmed the officer was struck by another vehicle (at fault) and went to the hospital. The officer was released with no injuries. • Commissioner Lopez: Inquired about the departmental reports distribution and was informed these reports are confidential and distributed only to the Commissioners. • Commissioner Carnegie: Congratulated Chief Sosebee in appointment and direction. Commended the decreased in juvenile arrests of January and asked how Chief is addressing cultural changes with department as culture is constantly changing. Would like to hear what Chief Sosebee is doing to fix disparity. Commissioner Carnegie clarified he would like to hear what Chief Sosebee is doing to address disparities. o Per Chief Sosebee he stresses education, communication and looking at disparities with a different lens to understand and accept disparities now and in the future. • Commissioner Jones: We tend to focus on too many negative forces, and some find the term “Implicit Bias” sets a negative tone. He applauds the education and training of Cultural Competence and feels this is extremely important to be effective. He also complimented the young Waverly student for writing her letter and valid concerns. • Commissioner McDermitt: No report. • Commissioner Milton: Congratulations extended to Chief Sosebee. He will reach out to the Chief to meet with Greater Lansing Clergy soon. • Chairperson Farhat: No report. OTHER BUSINESS: None. PUBLIC COMMENT: • Daniel Arnold: Congratulated Chief Sosebee and continuing the outstanding leadership. He appreciates downtown district Community Police Officer Dillon Reust for his community work and to Officer VandeVoorde for the Citizen’s Police Academy program. He also reminded to fill the pamphlets in the lobbies for citizens to use. Asked for more event announcements and photos of events be put on the social media for citizens. • The Honorable Willard Walker: Congratulated Chief Sosebee in his new position. Mr. Walker has a long history with working with city in HRCS and as a past Board of Police commissioner. He is aware of the old ways and the new cultures presented. He complimented the Board in cultural changes and direction they are taking by listening to citizens and addressing issues. He indicated change is noticeable. “Capital City’s Finest” Lansing Police Department Board of Police Commissioners 120 West Michigan Avenue Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 483-6040 Fax: (517) 483-4617 ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Farhat concluded by thanking everyone. Farhat moved that the board meeting be adjourned at 6:31 pm. Submitted by Ruth Grant, Recording Secretary, Lansing Board of Police Commissioners.