HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 16, 2025 Board of Police Commissioners Minutes of Meeting
Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
Lansing Police Department – Operations Center
Community Service Unit Conference Room
5815 Wise Rd., Lansing, MI
The Board of Police Commissioners met in regular session and the meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by
Chair Jones.
Present at Rollcall: Commission Members: Bitely, Brewster, Cotton, Farhat, Jones, Milton, and Watkins.
Also present: Chief Backus, Deputy City Attorney Lisa Hagen-Lawrence, HR Director Elizabeth O’Leary and Ruth
Grant
Public Attendees: 4
Rollcall was taken and quorum was present.
Commissioner Omar arrived at 5:40 PM after rollcall and vote on items was taken.
Pledge of Allegiance: Lead by Chair Jones.
Public Comment on Agenda Items: None.
Additions To The Agenda: Correspondence was received by a concerned citizen and they will speak during Public
Comment.
Approval Of Agenda: Chair Jones moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Bitely made the motion to approve with
Commissioner Farhat seconding the motion.
By Vote: Yeas: 7
Nays: 0
Consent Agenda: Chair Jones moved for approval of agenda items:
a) Approval of Meeting Minutes: November 18, 2025.
b) Approval of November Departmental Reports.
Chair Jones moved to approve the minutes and department reports. Commissioners Farhat made the motion with
Commissioner Bitely seconding the motion.
By Vote:
Yeas: 7
Nays: 0
EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION: Deputy City Attorney Lisa Hagen-Lawrence
• Explained the multiple ways the Office of City Attorney interacts with the Board and with the Police
Department.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT – Chief Backus
• From the Chiefs Office: The trend of crime, update on new facility, new software, post-Silver Bells
summary, holiday activities of LPD for community, promotions.
LEGAL UPDATE – Deputy City Attorney Lisa Hagen-Lawrence
No updates.
HUMAN RESOURCES – Directory Elizabeth O’Leary
• Human Services report.
COMMISSION INVESTIGATOR REPORT:
For December, 4 open cases, 8 closed; 1 went to Chief for matrix.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Budget – No updates.
• Government/Community Liaison Committee – No report.
• Awards and Incentives Committee – No report. Chair Jones noted two more commissioners will be needed
on this subcommittee.
• Ad Hoc Committee – No report.
• Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee – Met December 15th.
• Recruitment and Hiring – No additional report.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – (Informational)
• Farhat – Merry Christmas to everyone and be good health.
• Watkins – Happy Holidays.
• Cotton – No comment.
• Omar – Happy holidays and be safe.
• Milton – Thank you to Chief Backus with one of the recent shootings.
• Brewster – Attended Silver Bells on new float. Merry Christmas and be safe to all.
• Jones – No comment.
• Bitely – Silver Bells was very nice this year.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Two public comments.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Jones requested to adjourn the meeting at 6:32 pm. Commissioner Omar made a motion with
Commissioner Bitely seconding the motion.