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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Police Commissioners Minutes 07.21.26 Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Lansing Police Department, Headquarters 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 Brewster. Present at Rollcall: Commission Members: Bitely, Brewster, Farhat, Hernandez, Jones, Milton, Watkins Also present: Chief Backus, Elizabeth O’Leary, Julie Browne, Lisa Hagen-Lawrence, Ofc. Damon Pulver, and Jacqueline Lutz Public Attendees: 3 Rollcall was taken and quorum was present. Commissioner Cotton called in her absence. Motion to excuse by Commissioner Jones. Commissioner Milton seconded. Approved by unanimous consent. Pledge of Allegiance: Lead by Chair Brewster Correspondence Sent and Received: None. Public Comment on Agenda Items: None. Additions To the Agenda: None. Approval Of Agenda: Chair Brewster moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve with Commissioner Bitely seconding the motion. By Vote: Yeas: 7 Nays: 0 Consent Agenda: Chair Brewster moved for approval of agenda items: a) Approval of Meeting Minutes: June 16, 2026. b) Approval of June Departmental Reports. Chair Brewster moved to approve the minutes and department reports. Commissioner Farhat made the motion. Commissioner Bitely seconding the motion. By Vote: Yeas: 7 Nays: 0 EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION: Officer Damon Pulver, Explorer Program • 15–18-year-olds with an interest in law enforcement. About 30 applicants every year for the program. Cover general law enforcement topics, get youth engaged with law enforcement and help them transition into adulthood. Training explorers to be ready for the LPD FTO program. Added in life lessons and skills (financial advisors, nutritionists, personal trainers). One of the largest programs in the state. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT – Chief Backus • 6 months away from moving into the new building—our BOPC meetings will be held in there. July 1st, new fiscal year budget. At the 6-month point, crimes up about 6%. July 4th, 250th expected a large crowd, lots of advertising, 80 officers assigned to downtown/neighborhoods (in addition to regular staffing), this is an “all hands-on deck”. Assignments have moved: Internal Affairs lieutenant. Officer Bridget Voisin is the new community policing officer. Spoke on violent crimes at parks at the Westside in addition to public safety committee: several different initiatives like additional officers at night, mobile camera trailers, and estimates on permanent cameras though electricity to parks is limited, evaluating popular places for the ability to put up gates. Open applications for recruits for the next academy. Commissioner photographs in September. LEGAL UPDATE – Deputy City Attorney Lisa Hagen-Lawrence • No report. HUMAN RESOURCES – Director Elizabeth O’Leary • Lateral open, 19 ready to start at the academy, January 2027 academy applications open, cadets, detention officer posting until August 10th. COMMISSION INVESTIGATOR REPORT: Julie Browne, Commission Investigator • 8 opened, 4 closed, and 1 to the Chief UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None as of today NEW BUSINESS: None. BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS: • Budget – Received update earlier today, working to close out 2026, start of the new fiscal year • Government/Community Liaison Committee – No report • Awards and Incentives Committee – Nothing until December/January when awards are received for review • Ad Hoc Committee – None tonight • Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee – Met today, about 10 cases reviewed • Recruitment and Hiring – Commissioner Cotton absent, HR provided report COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – (Informational) • Farhat – Nothing, but commend Chair and Vice-Chair on nice job • Bitely – Good reports from those who run Lansing Pride, officers were very helpful and they are looking forward to working with police moving forward • Watkins – August 21st, East side community action having annual dinner • Cotton – Absent • Hernandez – None • Milton – No comment • Brewster – None • Jones – Thank you for the opportunity to serve as chair and congratulations to new chair and vice-chair PUBLIC COMMENT: 1 ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brewster moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:14 pm. Commissioner Milton made the motion with Commissioner Jones seconding. Approved by unanimous consent.