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 and make oversight power and information access urgent for the community.

Council reaction and staff direction: Mayor George Brookover called for an immediate review, asking the city manager and city attorney "to undertake immediately a complete review of our police and personnel policies and report back to council with the recommendations as to how the City can best utilize outside resources such as the MSU School of Criminal Justice to ensure our continuing progress towards effective and just law enforcement." City Manager (Belliman) told the council he believes Chief Brown "is willing to learn" and said he stands behind her while also acknowledging the comments were "offensive and racist" to some residents. Councilmembers expressed differing views about next steps; none of the public commenters' requests to force an immediate termination or to begin a state investigation were adopted as formal council action at the meeting.

What residents said: Multiple speakers said the chief's comments equated race with criminality and that an apology was inadequate. Harold Pope of the NAACP said the officer "sprayed the young man directly in his eyes at what should be an unlawful distance" and urged the city to demand accountability. Ernest Connolly told the council that the chief's remarks were "racially charged and inflammatory" and called council silence on the matter "loud." Several speakers, including Nadia Sellers and Deandra (last name on file), asked for the chief and others in leadership to resign.

Oversight commission access and transparency: Commissioners who spoke during public comment said the Independent Police Oversight Commission is having trouble accessing previously public reports. A commission member told the council that monthly "response to resistance" (use-of-force) reports had recently been provided without officer names and labelled confidential; she said the ordinance implementing the commission previously called for monthly public reports that included officer names. Council and staff discussed that the chief had advised, "under guidance from the labor attorney and city attorney, I have confirmed that the ordinance does not allow this report to be released publicly on a monthly basis with officer names," referring to section 2-485 of the municipal code as the ordinance provision governing reports to the oversight commission. The city attorney confirmed the department had consulted labor counsel and the city attorney's office on release.

Requests for independent review: The Women's Center called for a "full independent investigation into systemic racism within the East Lansing Police Department by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Michigan Attorney General's Office" and asked that findings and reform commitments be made public. Some councilmembers said they would monitor developments and that council has limited direct personnel authority, and Mayor Pro Tem Singh said she "look[ed] forward to learning more about the other footage that sounds like was released recently."

Next steps and limits: Council did not adopt a motion at the meeting to remove the chief or to request a state investigation. Mayor Brookover's request for an immediate policy review was presented as a direction to staff rather than a formal, binding vote. The city attorney and city manager said they will review legal limits on releasing officer names and other transparency matters and report back to council.

Ending: The episode prompted a wider council discussion about the role of oversight, the mechanics of disclosure tied to collective bargaining advice, and whether East Lansing should request outside review; residents and community organizations left the meeting urging quicker, more decisive action.