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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Police Commissioners Minutes 03.17.26 Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Lansing Police Department HQ 2nd FL Conference Room 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 Chair Jones. Present at Rollcall: Commission Members: Bitely, Brewster, Cotton, Farhat, Hernandez, Jones, Milton, Wilton Also present: Chief Backus, Elizabeth O’Leary, Julie Browne, Kesha McKitty, Matthew Staples and Jacqueline Lutz Public Attendees: 2 Rollcall was taken and quorum was present. New Commissioner: Hernandez Pledge of Allegiance: Lead by Commissioner Jones Correspondence Sent and Received: Commissioner Jones received correspondence from Ali Peeler. Public Comment on Agenda Items: None Additions To the Agenda: None 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: 8 Nays: 0 Consent Agenda: Chair Jones moved for approval of agenda items: a) Approval of Meeting Minutes: February 17, 2026. b) Approval of February Departmental Reports. Chair Jones moved to approve the minutes and department reports. Commissioners Bitely made the motion. Commissioner Farhat seconding the motion. By Vote: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION: Kesha McKitty, Human Resource Specialist • Hiring processes of police officer-lateral and police officer-recruits: o Documentation requirements, screening of applicants, virtual interviews with potentially doing in- person interviews, personal history, conditional offers, background investigations, psychological evaluations, pre-employment physical (includes physical, drug-test, and respiratory fitness test), onboarding and final offer letter, start date/uniforms/fingerprinting, and orientation (first day of employment). o Lateral job posting is ongoing o Recruit job posting happens twice a year o Police recruits earn $20/hr while in the academy o Laterals earn anywhere from $56,629,24 to $80,933.42 • Other departments can be faster in the hiring process of a recruit; however, we take our time to ensure that we are putting our best people in the community ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT – Chief Backus • Tomorrow is the State of the City at 6:00 at Dart, promotional testing is complete, Safe Summer Plan (extra officers out in the community during high volume call times; awarded a grant; incorporating river patrols with our officers on bikes on the trails), interviews for recruits ended today, May 20th is the annual award ceremony, annual lecture for all employees (what took place last year, and what is expected for this year; public safety building update), brand new composite pictures. Cesar Chavez (possibly postponed). Terrorist event in West Bloomfield last week, we put on a training for all houses of worship after what happened in Grand Blanc, if you hear any house of worship that is looking for resources, please send our way. LEGAL UPDATE – Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples • No specific update. HUMAN RESOURCES – Director Elizabeth O’Leary • Interviews finished today, list for background possibly coming tomorrow • One lateral began on March 9 COMMISSION INVESTIGATOR REPORT: • Julie Browne, Commission Investigator o 0 opened, 5 closed, and 0 to the Chief • Commissioner Watkins drafted document to try to come up with something that is a little more informative as to the types of complaints UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None as of today. OTHER BUSINESS: BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS: • Budget – On track, Chief goes before City Council April 6th for the next fiscal year budget • Government/Community Liaison Committee – nothing today • Awards and Incentives Committee – Awards Ceremony is May 20th, more information to come, invite from Awards committee • Ad Hoc Committee – • Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee – Well Covered • Recruitment and Hiring – Nothing COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – (Informational) • Farhat – Welcome to Commissioner Hernandez • Watkins – Florensio forgot to mention that he was on the city’s DEI board, son in-law is selling coffee at our local Meijers over the next month (Fresh Grindz) • Cotton – Car wash on Cedar St possibly a homeless encampment, would appreciate police officer looking into it. Thank you, Chief • Hernandez – Nothing, just thank you for welcoming and excited to be working with you all. • Milton – Welcome to the new commissioner • Brewster – Welcome to the commissioner, open for questions any time • Jones – Welcome to the Board, Commissioner Hernandez. It’s good to put a face to the name. Happy St. Patrick’s day • Bitely – Thank you, Chief, on the update on what Lansing is doing to combat any terrorist issues. Welcome to our new commissioner PUBLIC COMMENT: 0 ADJOURNMENT: Chair Jones adjourned the meeting by unanimous consent at 6:44 pm.