Board of Police Commissioners

Regular Meeting

Lansing, MI · May 20, 2025

Minutes

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Lansing Police Department – Headquarters 120 W. Michigan Avenue, 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 Commissioner Jones. Present: Commissioner Members: Bitely, Brewster, Cotton, Farhat, Jones, Milton, Sheikh-Omar and Watkins. Also present: Chief Robert Backus, Assistant City Attorney Matt Staples, A’Keydra Abrams and Ruth Grant. Public Attendees: 3 Roll call was taken and quorum was present. Pledge of Allegiance: Lead by Chair Jones. Public Comment on Agenda Items: None. Additions To The Agenda: None. Approval Of Agenda: Chair Jones moved to approve the agenda. Vice-Chair Brewster made the motion to approve with Commissioners Bitely and Milton seconding the motion. Consent Agenda: Commissioner Jones moved to approval of the two agenda items. a) Approval of Meeting Minutes: April 15th, 2025 b) Approval of the Department Reports: April 2025 Commissioner Watkins made the motion with Commissioner Bitely seconding the motion of the two agenda items. By Vote: Yeas: 8 Nays: 0 EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION: LPD Cadets. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT - Chief Robert Backus LEGAL UPDATE – Assistant City Attorney Matt Staples HUMAN RESOURCES – Commissioner Cotton COMMISSION INVESTIGATOR REPORT: Ms. A’Keydra Abrams • For the month of April 2025, there were ten open cases, twelve cases were closed and one case has been forwarded to the chief. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: None. BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS: • Budget – The budget has been passed for FY26 • Government/Community Liaison Committee – A meeting with chief and clergy has been scheduled for next week. • Awards and Incentives Committee – The awards banquet will be May 21st. • Ad Hoc Committee – No report. • Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee – April 29th meet with Internal Affairs. IA & Ms. Abrahms did thorough work. • Recruitment and Hiring - No report. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – (Informational) PUBLIC COMMENT: Three public comments. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at: 6:24 pm by Chair Jones. Commissioner Bitely made the motion and Commissioner Farhat seconded the motion. Submitted by: Ruth Grant Board of Police Commissioners Secretary

Agenda

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Agenda Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Lansing Police Department – Headquarters 120 W. Michigan Avenue, 2nd Floor Conference Lansing, MI 48933 CALL TO ORDER – Chairperson Jones ROLL CALL a. Establish Quorum b. Pledge of Allegiance CORRESPONDENCE SENT AND RECEIVED - (Information/ Action) ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA - (Information / Action) APPROVAL OF AGENDA - (Action) PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS - Time limit: 3 minutes. (Information) CONSENT AGENDA (action) a. Approval of Minutes – April 15, 2025, Meeting Minutes (Information / Action) b. Department Reports – April 2025 (Information/Action) EDUCATION PRESENTATION – LPD Cadets Presentation ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT - Chief Robert Backus (Information) LEGAL UPDATE – Chief Deputy City Attorney Lisa Hagen-Lawrence (Information) HUMAN RESOURCES – Director Elizabeth O’Leary (Information) COMMISSION INVESTIGATOR REPORT – Ms. A’Keydra Abrams UNFINISHED BUSINESS – Chair Jones (Information/Action) NEW BUSINESS GENERAL Board Committee Reports a. Budget Committee – Chair Jones b. Government / Community Liasson Committee – Chair Milton c. Awards & Incentives Committee – Co Chairs Farhat and Brewster d. Ad Hoc Committee on Board Policies and Rules – Chair Bitely e. Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee – Chair Jones f. Recruitment & Hiring Report – Chair Cotton COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS – (Information) PUBLIC COMMENT – On any matter. Time limit: 3 minutes. (Information) OTHER BUSINESS – (Information/Action) ADJOURNMENT – Chairperson Jones