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Public speakers demand accountability as East Lansing hires outside counsel to review police actions
Summary
Multiple speakers at the Nov. 18 East Lansing council meeting accused Police Chief Jennifer Brown and officers of racially biased statements and misconduct; others defended the chief. City Manager Robert Bellman reported the council authorized outside counsel (Hahnemann law firm) and engaged Michelle Crockett to conduct an independent review of recent downtown incidents.
A heated public-comment period at the East Lansing City Council’s Nov. 18 meeting centered on allegations about police conduct and statements by Police Chief Jennifer Brown arising from recent downtown incidents. Several residents demanded accountability — including calls for the chief’s removal — while supporters urged the council to back Brown and the department.
Harold Pope said the chief’s reported comments "represent a deeply harmful departure from these principles" of transparency and equity and argued that "the resignation or removal of the current police chief is necessary." Multiple speakers asked the council to publicly exonerate two young Black men they said had been wrongly criminalized and to hold officers accountable for use-of-force incidents.
In response to public concern and pursuant to a council action taken on Oct. 21, City Manager Robert Bellman said the city has retained outside counsel. "Mayor Brookover signed a contract on 11/04/2025 with the Hahnemann law firm to engage Michelle Crockett," Bellman reported, and Crockett has been engaged to conduct an independent review of the East Lansing Police Department’s actions, policies and procedures related to downtown incidents and related prosecutions. Bellman said Crockett and two other attorneys from her firm will proceed with the review and that the city will provide updates as information becomes available.
Speakers who defended Chief Brown included Chris Brooks, who identified himself as a current police officer and former East Lansing resident and said Brown "has never once treated me, or anyone else for that matter, different because of the color of their skin." Other public commenters described first-hand incidents and expressed concern about body-camera access and the cost of obtaining footage; Leslie Morales said she was billed $105 to obtain body-camera footage relating to her Oct. 11 arrest and asked the council to address access to that evidence.
The city manager also said Chief Brown is preparing a downtown-solutions agenda item for the council’s Dec. 9 meeting that could include ordinance amendments, staffing recommendations and other measures aimed at addressing noise, loitering, camping and public-safety concerns.
The council previously authorized an independent review and the contract is in place; the review’s findings and any recommended changes in policy or discipline will be reported back to the city as the outside counsel completes its work.
