HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 20, 2024 Board of Police Commissioners Minutes of Meeting - Approved
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Location: Letts Community Center, 1220 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48915
The Board of Police Commissioners met in regular session and the meeting was called to order at 5:32 p.m.
by Chairperson Jones.
Present: Commission Members: Bitely, Brewster, Cotton, Farhat, Jones, and Milton.
Also Present: Chief Robert Backus, Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples, Commission Investigator A’Keydra Abrams
and Ruth Grant
Public attendees: 2
Roll call was taken, and quorum present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance led by Chair Jones.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: None.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
The minutes from the Board meeting on July 16, 2024, were moved by Chair Jones to approve and place on file. Motion
carried by Commissioner Bitely with Commissioner Milton seconding the motion.
By Vote:
Yeas: 6
Nays: 0
EDUCATION PRESENTATION: None.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Chief Robert Backus.
NEW BUSINESS: None.
LEGAL AND ADVISOR REPORT: Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples
HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT: Commissioner Cotton
UNFINISHED BUSNESS: None.
CORRESPONDANCE SENT AND RECEIVED: None..
DEPARTMENT REPORTS:
Moved by Chair Jones to accept and place on file the 2024 July Departmental reports. Motion carried by Commissioner
Farhat and seconded by Commissioner Bitely.
By Vote:
Yeas: 6
Nays: 0
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Budget Committee: Chair Jones reported no changes to the budget at this time.
• Government Liaison Committee: No report.
• Awards & Incentives Committee: No report.
• Ad Hoc Committee on Board Policies and Rules: Commissioner Bitely has reviewed all rules and procedures for
the Board of Police Commissioners. She will be working on some grammar components and there issues.
• Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee: Did not meet this past month however will be adjusting to meet
monthly.
• Recruitment and Hiring Committee: Commissioner Cotton met with HR Director O’Leary to discuss recruitment
and hiring process.
• Commission Investigator Abrams: Thirteen cases reviewed. Eleven are open, 1 sustained and 1 exonerated.
COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS:
• Commissioner Bitely: Happy to see someone has been charged with the homicide which took place in her
neighborhood.
• Commissioner Brewster: Inquired if a CCOC meeting had been scheduled. No further comment.
• Commissioner Milton: No comment.
• Commissioner Cotton: No comment. Stated she is concerned about the homeless population and amount of
trash on the streets left by the homeless.
• Commissioner Farhat: Thanked Chief Backus for LPD’s participation in National Night Out that was delayed one
day due to weather. No further comment.
• Commissioner Jones: Congratulations to Chief Backus.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Jones concluded by thanking everyone for attending and requested a motion to adjourn.
Motion carried by Commissioner Bitely and seconded by Commissioner Brewster. Meeting ended at 6:00 pm.