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Residents, NAACP and Human Rights Commission urge council to reject changes to police oversight ordinance
Summary
Dozens of residents and civic leaders told East Lansing City Council on Sept. 9 that proposed revisions to Ordinance 15-33 would strip the Independent Police Oversight Commission of investigative and transparency powers; an attempt to delay the ordinance's second reading failed and debate will continue at upcoming meetings.
Council member Watson moved to add a new agenda item and to postpone the second reading of Ordinance 15-33 to Oct. 21 so the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission could review proposed changes, but the amendment to the agenda failed after the mayor said unanimous consent was required.
Public comment that followed focused heavily on the ordinance revisions. Matthew Bowden, a member of the East Lansing Human Rights Commission, told the council the proposed language would “completely strip the independent police oversight commission ... of any power to perform the mission for which it was created,” and said the changes would prevent the commission from initiating investigations, hiring independent investigators and identifying officers involved in complaints.
Harold Pope, president of NAACP Lansing (Tri-County), told the council removing the commission’s ability to initiate investigations and see officer names would leave “an environment without true oversight, without transparency, and without accountability.” Student and resident speakers, including Elena Foreman and Nadia Sellers of the Honeymere Project, echoed concerns about concealed police conduct and decisions made behind closed doors.
Council members said the issue will continue to be discussed in public sessions. Council member Watson emphasized she wanted the commission to have adequate time and information to weigh in; her motion to amend the agenda to delay a second reading was not adopted. The council did not take final action on Ordinance 15-33 at this meeting and indicated further public discussion will occur at future meetings.
