Residents and civil-rights groups urge council to reject changes to police oversight ordinance

A proposal to amend the city ordinance that governs the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission drew extended public comment on Sept. 9, with speakers urging the City Council to reject changes they said would undermine independent review of police conduct.

Speakers including Matthew Bowden, a member of the East Lansing Human Rights Commission speaking as a resident, said the proposed revisions to Division 12, Section 2 (Ordinance 15‑33) would “prevent LIPOC from holding investigations and hiring independent investigators,” limit commissioners’ public remarks, allow police‑union agreements to supersede the ordinance and permit the police department to redact officer names from reports. Bowden said those provisions would “strip the independent police oversight commission ... of any power to perform the mission for which it was created.”

Harold Pope, president of NAACP Lansing (Tri‑County), told council the changes would reduce the commission “to a non‑functioning commission without purpose,” and described the commission as “the key to transparency.” Multiple speakers cited recent August incidents and asked for access to body‑camera footage and demographic arrest data.

Council member Watson attempted to amend the evening’s business agenda to add a staff document comparing the proposed changes and to move the second reading of Ordinance 15‑33 to Oct. 21 so the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission (LIPOC) could review materials and submit feedback. Council took a roll‑call vote on the motion to amend; Council member Altman voted no while Council members Meadows and Watson and Mayor Pro Tem Singh and Mayor Brookover voted yes. The mayor stated that unanimous consent was required to change the agenda at that point and the motion to amend failed.

Council discussion during and after public comment emphasized both support for police officers’ work and the need for transparency and accountability. Council member Watson said residents have reported demeaning language and threats from officers in some encounters and pressed for “access to footage” so the public could see events directly. Council member Meadows said the changes to the ordinance “will be discussed completely” and noted the council could again move to delay consideration at its Sept. 23 meeting.

The transcript and speakers repeatedly requested that the public be given the materials and time needed for meaningful input on ordinance revisions. For now, the council did not take final action on Ordinance 15‑33 on Sept. 9; the second reading remained scheduled under the existing agenda timetable.

Ending

Council members and staff signaled additional public process will follow: the mayor and council noted LIPOC will continue to meet and council said there will be public discussion on the ordinance at future meetings. No final amendment to Ordinance 15‑33 was adopted at the Sept. 9 meeting.