East Lansing residents, advocacy groups demand accountability after new video; council weighs oversight and transparency

Dozens of residents and advocacy groups urged East Lansing City Council on Oct. 7 to seek accountability and changes in police oversight after new surveillance video and reporting raised questions about how the East Lansing Police Department handled an Aug. 23 incident.

Speakers during public comment said the city has not had sufficient transparency and that police leadership's public statements have harmed trust. Rebecca Kacen, executive director of the Women's Center of Greater Lansing, said the organization "calls for the immediate resignation of East Lansing police chief Jen Brown and a full state investigation into department racism." Kath Edsall, who identified herself as a member of the Independent Police Oversight Commission, told council that "WLNS released surveillance video footage from Dave's hot chicken regarding the incident that occurred just outside the restaurant on August 23," and said the chief "allegedly had this footage all along and yet chose only to release to the public via press release the body worn camera footage that fit her narrative."

Why it matters: speakers said the newly discussed footage and the department's prior public statements deepen concerns about institutional bias and department transparency…