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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 15, 2023 - Board of Police Commissioners Minutes of Meeting - Approved “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, August 15, 2023 Location: Letts Community Center, 1220 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48933 The Board of Police Commissioners met in regular session and the meeting was called to order at 5:34 p.m. by Chairperson Patty Farhat. Present: Commission Members: Abood, Brewster, Farhat, Jones, Lopez, and Milton Also Present: Chief Ellery Sosebee, Assistant Chief Robert Backus, Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples, Commission Investigator Delvata Moses, and Secretary Ruth Grant. Public attendees: 5 Roll call was taken, and quorum was present. Excused Absence: Commissioners McDermitt Motion carried to accept and excuse the absence by Commissioner Jones and seconded by Commissioner Brewster. By vote: Yeas: 6 Nays: 0 The meeting of July 18, 2023, did not achieve quorum. For record, a motion was carried to accept and excuse the absences of Commissioners Lopez, Abood, McDermitt by Commissioner Jones and seconded by Commissioner Milton. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Abood. Please keep Wynter Cole Smith and family in your thoughts and prayers. Wynter passed away last month. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes from the Board meeting on June 20, 2023, were moved by Chairperson Farhat to approve and place on file. Motion carried by Commissioner Brewster with Commissioner Lopez seconding the motion. By Vote: Yeas: 6 Nays: 0 The minutes from the Board meeting on July 18, 2023, were moved by Chairperson Farhat to approve and place on file. Motion carried by Commissioner Brewster with Commissioner Jones seconding the motion. By Vote: Yeas: 6 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 EDUCATION PRESENTATION: None. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Chief Ellery Sosebee • Critical Incident Training (CIT) Progress – Two LPD social workers will be presenting at a conference in CIT Detroit to learn best practices on CIT. In attendance will be social workers, law enforcement and other professionals. 100% of LPD will soon be CIT trained. NEW BUSINESS: • The Board agreed to the 2023 sub-committee assignments. Commissioner Farhat entertained a motion to accept and place on file. Commissioner Brewster made a motion with Commissioner Lopez seconding. By vote: Yeas: 6 Nays: 0 • Executive Directive from the Mayor: this will be assigned to the Complaint Committee for review and will report back to the Mayor. LEGAL AND ADVISOR REPORT: Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples • A recent federal lawsuit (Demarco Taft vs LPD) has been dismissed on all claims. • No other report. HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT: Commissioner Sam Brewster • Detention: Two female and one (male/female) vacancy; top two (2) recommended candidates have been sent for a pre-employment physical; received 1 of 2 results and both have a tentative start date of 8/21/2023. Position has been reposted. Five candidates will be invited for an interview. • Police Cadet: Pending interviews. • Police Officer Certified / Certifiable: Currently posted on Neogov and accepting applications, screening, and routing to hiring managers. In process of vetting 5 potential new hires (in process of pre-employment physicals and psychological evaluations). • Police Recruits (Sponsorship): 19 police recruits started on August 7, 2023. Preparing to interview another group of recruit applicants mid to late August in preparation for January 2024 Police Academy. • Secretary 26 (Special Operations) Status: One vacancy currently filled by a contract employee. Paperwork was submitted to Segal 3/14/2023 and results were received on 5/3/2023. Results memo was sent to Department 5/12/2023. After furth discussion, LPD is looking at eliminating this position as possibly adding a third Crime Research Analyst; a decision is currently pending due to further needed discussion. UNFINISHED BUSNESS: None. CORRESPONDANCE SENT AND RECEIVED: 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 DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Moved by Chairperson Farhat to accept and place on file the 2023 June departmental reports. Motion carried by Commissioner Brewster and seconded by Commissioner Jones. By Vote: Yeas: 6 Nays: 0 Moved by Chairperson Farhat to accept and place on file the 2023 July departmental reports. Motion carried by Commissioner Brewster and seconded by Commissioner Abood. By Vote: Yeas: 6 Nays: 0 BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS: • Budget Committee: No report. • Government Liaison Committee: Per Chief Sosebee, a version of the Zencity report will be presented to the Mayor and the Board before being posted on the website when available. • Awards & Incentives Committee: No report until 2024. • Ad Hoc Committee on Board Policies and Rules: No report. • Complaint Committee: The committee met via zoom. • Recruitment and Hiring Committee: See Human Resources report. • Commission Investigator Delvata Moses: For the month of July 2023, there were three complaints received. Two were closed and none were forwarded to the Chief for review for the matrix. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: • Commissioner Abood: No comment. • Commissioner Brewster: No comment. • Commissioner Jones: No comment. • Commissioner Milton: No comment. • Commissioner Lopez: In regard to the dismissed lawsuits will there be any changes in how the case was handled or for procedures in the future? Per Chief Sosebee the case would have to be reviewed to see if any training or procedural changes are needed. Per Mr. Staples, some case may have the opportunity for appeals too. • Commissioner Farhat: No comment. OTHER BUSINESS: • Election of Officers: Commissioner Farhat recommended Commissioner Jones to be new chairperson. Jones accepted. A motion was moved by Commissioner Brewster for approval and seconded by Commissioner Abood. By vote: Yeas: 5 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 Commissioner Farhat recommended Commission Brewster as Vice-Chair. Brewster accepted. A motion was moved by Commissioner Farhat for approval and seconded by Commissioner Abood. By vote: Yeas: 5 Nays: 0 PUBLIC COMMENT: • Robin Moore: Regarding the incident on social media, asks police to be mindful when dealing with juvenile cases. • Daniel Arnold: Would like to volunteer services to help LPD more with community. • Norma Bauer: Regarding the incident on social media, is concerned for healing of community. • Farhan Sheikh-Omar: Regarding the incident on social media, concerned with accountability to move forward. ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Farhat concluded by thanking everyone and moved to adjourn the meeting; motion to adjourn at 6:04 pm. Submitted by Ruth Grant, Recording Secretary, Lansing Board of Police Commissioners.