HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 19, 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, September 19, 2023
Location: Lansing Police Department Headquarters, 2nd Floor, 120 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933
The Board of Police Commissioners met in regular session and the meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
by Chairperson Deyeya Jones.
Present: Commission Members: Abood, Brewster, Farhat, Jones, Lopez, Milton and McDermitt.
Also Present: Chief Ellery Sosebee, Assistant Chief Robert Backus, Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples,
and Secretary Ruth Grant.
Public attendees: 3
Roll call was taken, and quorum was present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance led by Chairman Jones.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes from the Board meeting on August 15, 2023, were moved by Chairman Jones to approve and place
on file. Motion carried by Commissioner Farhat with Commissioner Brewster seconding the motion.
By Vote: Yeas: 7
Nays: 0
EDUCATION PRESENTATION: None.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Chief Ellery Sosebee
• Chief is working on a presentation for the Board on the city-wide model of crime statistics and
the effects.
• The stats for city-wide crime in Lansing has decreased other than violent weapon and stolen
vehicle complaints. There has also been a decline in shootings in general for 2023, currently.
• On October 5th LPD will be promoting seven officers and on October 12th five officers will be
retiring.
• Chief had a good meeting with MSU AD Allen Haller, Trustee Vasser and Dr. Norman
Beauchamp. Both MSU and LPD have a significant desire to create a partnership in areas of
hiring diversity, internships, student athlete police academies, juvenile alternatives to
“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
incarcerations, partnering with Sparrow Hospital medical teams to serve in the detention unit to
name a few.
• Retired LPD Lieutenant Mike Ross has donated a restored 1976 Oldsmobile LPD Patrol vehicle
to the historical association of Lansing Police Department.
NEW BUSINESS: None.
LEGAL AND ADVISOR REPORT: Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples
• No report.
HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT: Commissioner McDermitt
• Detention: Two female and one (male/female) vacancy; top two (2) female vacancies were filled on
8/21/2023. Position has been reposted; 5/23/2023 – 6/29/2023 and the top two recommended candidates
were sent to background (8/3/2023 and 9/6/2023.
• Police Cadet: Interviewing eight applicants to fill two open positions.
• Police Officer Certified / Certifiable: Currently posted on Neogov and accepting applications,
screening, and routing to hiring managers. New hire started 8/21/2023 and another on 9/11/2023. In
process of vetting 3 potential new hires (in process of pre-employment physicals and psychological
evaluations).
• Police Recruits (Sponsorship): 20+ police recruits interviewed for police academy starting January
2024; in the process of conducting background investigations, psychological evaluations and scheduling
preemployment physicals.
• 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. It has been determined that the Secretary 26 (Special Operations)
position will be eliminated, and a second Crime Research Analyst 24will be added. The Kickoff
Meeting was held on 9/13/2023 positing goal date is 9/15/2023.
UNFINISHED BUSNESS: None.
CORRESPONDANCE SENT AND RECEIVED: None.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS: Moved by Chairperson Jones to accept and place on file the 2023 August
departmental reports. Motion carried by Commissioner Farhat and seconded by Commissioner Milton.
By Vote: Yeas: 7
Nays: 0
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Budget Committee: Chairperson Jones reported that the June budget is still being worked on. He will
be arranging a meeting with the budget supervisor soon.
• Government Liaison Committee: Chief Sosebee suggested Commissioner Lopez and his
subcommittee attend the next Crime meeting to have some of his questions answered. Commissioner
Lopez agreed.
“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
• Awards & Incentives Committee: No report until December.
• Ad Hoc Committee on Board Policies and Rules: No report.
• Complaint Committee: The committee met in June. Commissioners Jones, Brewster, Farhat and Ms.
Moses to discuss the Mayor’s Executive Directive as it relates to the Complaint Committee.
• Recruitment and Hiring Committee: Commissioner McDermitt briefly spoke of a NIJ article on
females in law enforcement. She will share this article.
• Commission Investigator: For the month of August 2023, there were eight complaints received. Five
were closed and one was 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: He looks forward to the Chief’s new report that will show the public the amount
of daily service calls each officer goes on.
• Commissioner Farhat: No comment.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
• Daniel Arnold: He has offered for any LPD officer to join him during his daily visits to other police
agencies. He appreciates the new Narcan vending machine that is in the lobby of Headquarters. He
suggested fixing the kiosk.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Jones concluded by thanking everyone and moved to adjourn the meeting; motion
by Commissioner Brewster and seconded by Commissioner Farhart to adjourn at 6:03 pm.
Submitted by Ruth Grant, Recording Secretary, Lansing Board of Police Commissioners.