HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 17, 2023 Board of Police Commissioners Minutes of Meeting - Draft
“Capital City’s Finest”
Lansing Police Department
Board of Police Commissioners
120 West Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 483-6040
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Location: Gardner International Magnet School, 333 Dahlia, Lansing, MI 48911
The Board of Police Commissioners met in regular session and the meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
by Vice-Chairperson Brewster.
Present: Commission Members: Abood, Brewster, Farhat, Lopez, and Milton.
Also Present: Chief Ellery Sosebee and Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples
Excused Absence: Commissioner McDermitt and Commissioner Jones.
Motion carried to accept ad excuse the absence by Commissioner Abood and seconded by Commissioner
Farhat.
By Vote: Yeas: 5
Nays: 0
Public attendees: 2
Roll call was taken, and quorum was present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance led by Chairman Lopez.
A moment of silence given to Mr. Ted Lawson whose life was tragically taken and for the people of the Middle
East with turbulence of war.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes from the Board meeting on September 19, 2023, were moved by Vice-Chair Brewster to approve
and place on file. Motion carried by Commissioner Farhat with Commissioner Milton seconding the motion.
By Vote: Yeas: 5
Nays: 0
EDUCATION PRESENTATION: None.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Chief Ellery Sosebee
• Welcomed Commissioner Bitely to the Board.
• Update at LPD: Five police officers retired on October 12th: a captain, three sergeants and two
detectives. Captain Eric Pratl will become the new captain of the Patrol Division, the largest
division.
“Capital City’s Finest”
Lansing Police Department
Board of Police Commissioners
120 West Michigan Avenue
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 483-6040
• 2022 LPD Annual Report has been distributed for review and approval by the commission. The
annual report has been condensed to show statistical information.
Motion made to approve 2022 LPD Annual Report: motion carried by Commissioner Milton and
seconded by Farhat.
By Vote: Yeas: 5
Nays: 0
• The Strategic Plan will be presented at the next meeting to be able to use AV equipment.
- The strategic plan is for five-years and is reviewed each year with updates.
- The changes made this year have been more philosophical in nature. Chief would like to see
more civilian positions created instead of being filled by police officers (such as the evidence
tech, crime scene investigators) so these officers can help road patrol.
NEW BUSINESS: None.
LEGAL AND ADVISOR REPORT: Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples
• No report.
HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT: Commissioner Brewster
• Position has been reposted from 5/23/2023 – 6/19/2023 and the top two recommended candidates
(male) completed background investigation step and are under review by Chief/HR. One female
candidate hired on 8/21/23 resigned and position will be reposted 10/13/2023.
• Police Cadet: Three applicants are in background.
• Police Officer Certified / Certifiable: Currently posted on Neogov and accepting applications,
screening, and routing to hiring managers. Two new hires scheduled to start Monday, October 23, 2023.
Two potential new hires (in process of background, pre-employment physicials and psychological
evaluations).
• Police Recruits (Sponsorship): Preparing the12 police recruit who are scheduled to start January 2024
Police Academy.
• Research Analyst 34 Status: Position was posted 9/15/2023 – 10/6/2023 and HR received 33
applications which are currently being screened for BMQ’s.
UNFINISHED BUSNESS: None.
CORRESPONDANCE SENT AND RECEIVED: None.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Moved by Vice-Chair Brewster to accept and place on file the 2023 September
departmental reports. Motion carried by Commissioner Farhat 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
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Budget Committee: No report.
• Government Liaison Committee: Working on the Board meeting locations schedule for 2024. Will
schedule a committee meeting soon.
• Awards & Incentives Committee: No report until December.
• Ad Hoc Committee on Board Policies and Rules: No report.
• Complaint Committee: Spoke with Sgt. Doerr and will set up a meeting soon with Lieutenant Mills in
Internal Affairs.
• Recruitment and Hiring Committee: No additional report.
• Commission Investigator: Interviews are in process for this position.
COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS:
• Commissioner Abood: No comment.
• Commissioner Brewster: Next week is the groundbreaking for the new facility, October 26th.
• Commissioner Jones: No comment.
• Commissioner Milton: No comment.
• Commissioner Lopez: Attended a recent meeting and Ofc. Briggs did a great job presenting. Need to
find other areas other than LPD to address gun violence. Asked about school crossing guard for
Pattengill school.
• Commissioner Farhat: No comment except that Silver Bells will be November 17th.
• Commissioner Bitely: Looks forward to working with each commissioner and happy to be here.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
• Daniel Arnold: Happy to work with LPD. The homeless population seems to be growing and impressed
with how LPD and Chief is handling events of the city.
ADJOURNMENT: Vice-Chair Brewster concluded by thanking everyone and moved to adjourn the meeting
at 6:13 pm.
Submitted by Ruth Grant, Recording Secretary, Lansing Board of Police Commissioners.