HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Police Commissioners Minutes 04.21.26
Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Lansing Fire Department – Station #4, Community Room
1435 E Miller Rd, 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
Chair Jones.
Present at Rollcall: Commission Members: Brewster, Cotton, Farhat, Jones, Milton, Watkins
Also present: Chief Backus, Elizabeth O’Leary, Fire Chief Edwards-Clemons, Julie Browne, Matthew Staples, Keith
Goodwin and Jacqueline Lutz
Public Attendees: 2
Rollcall was taken and quorum was present.
Commissioner Hernandez arrived at 5:45 pm after roll call and vote on items was taken.
Commissioner Bitely arrived at 5:50 pm after roll call and vote on items was taken.
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 Watkins made the motion to approve
with Commissioner Farhat seconding the motion.
By Vote: Yeas: 6
Nays: 0
Consent Agenda: Chair Jones moved for approval of agenda items:
a) Approval of Meeting Minutes: March 17, 2026.
b) Approval of March Departmental Reports.
Chair Jones moved to approve the minutes and department reports. Commissioners Farhat made the motion.
Commissioner Brewster seconding the motion.
By Vote: Yeas: 6
Nays: 0
EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION: Fire Chief Carrie Edwards-Clemons
• Emergency Management, New Trainings, the future of LFD
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT – Chief Backus
• Increase in numbers in March reports, New Summer Shift beginning in May, second homicide of the year.
May 4th MI Cops at the Capitol at 7pm, May 5th Ingham County Law Enforcement Memorial at 10 am, May
8th Mid-Michigan Police Academy 6pm at DART (7 Grads), Event for 29 possible recruits, CIT training class.
LEGAL UPDATE – Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples
• No legal update. Introducing Keith Goodwin, new attorney in office.
HUMAN RESOURCES – Director Elizabeth O’Leary
• Lateral position posted, 1 lateral starting in May, 12 recruits in background phase, 17 awaiting MCOLEs. Cadet
position posted Friday. Central Records Specialist posted.
COMMISSION INVESTIGATOR REPORT:
• Julie Browne, Commission Investigator
o 3 opened, 5 closed, and 0 to the Chief
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None as of today.
OTHER BUSINESS: None.
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Budget – No new information to share
• Government/Community Liaison Committee – Nothing
• Awards and Incentives Committee – May 20th Awards Ceremony
• Ad Hoc Committee – No report
• Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee – Met this afternoon, appreciate the CI’s work alongside IA. Former
Ofc. Wilcox case was handled by the Department with integrity.
• Recruitment and Hiring – Nothing
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – (Informational)
• Farhat – Nothing, thank you.
• Watkins – Nothing
• Cotton – Concerned about the Car Wash on Cedar St. Concerned about the uptick in gun violence. K North
incident a few weeks ago
• Hernandez – None
• Milton – Law Enforcement Sunday at his church, for more information see him
• Brewster – Noticed youths on offroad mini-bikes, motorized on sidewalks
• Jones – No comments
• Bitely – Spring Officers downtown more, seeing more on patrol
PUBLIC COMMENT: 1
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Jones moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:21 pm. Commissioner Bitely made the motion with
Commissioner Farhat seconding.
By Vote: Yeas: 6 Nays: 0