On the agenda: Lansing Board of Police Commissioners — license plate reader (Oct 20)

Board of Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Lansing Police Department HQ, 2nd Fl Conf. Room
120 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933
The Board of Police Commissioners met in regular session and the meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by
Chair Brewster.
Present at Rollcall: Commission Members: Bitely, Brewster, Cotton, Farhat, Hernandez, Milton, Watkins
Also present: Chief Backus, Elizabeth O’Leary, Matthew Staples, Julie Browne, Delvata Moses, Beth Royston, and
Jacqueline Lutz
Public Attendees: 3
Rollcall was taken and quorum was present.
Commissioner Jones not present and did not communicate absence.
Pledge of Allegiance: Lead by Commissioner Hernandez
Correspondence Sent and Received: None
Public Comment on Agenda Items: 0
Additions To the Agenda: None
Approval Of Agenda: Chair Brewster moved to approve the agenda. Commissioner Watkins made the motion to approve
with Commissioner Bitely seconding the motion.
By Vote: Yeas: 7
Nays: 0
Consent Agenda: Chair Brewster moved for approval of agenda items:
a) Approval of Meeting Minutes: September 15, 2026.
b) Approval of September Departmental Reports.
Chair Brewster moved to approve the minutes and department reports. Commissioner Milton made the motion.
Commissioner Watkins seconding the motion.
By Vote: Yeas: 7
Nays: 0
EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION: HRCS Interim Director Delvata Moses
• Responsibilities and functions of HRCS. Increase in homelessness across the country. Community outreach events,
website updates to assist with unhoused.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT – Chief Backus
• OIS update, river trail investigation, license plate reader technology, summer safety squad—lots of positive
feedback, cold case updates

LEGAL UPDATE – Assistant City Attorney Matthew Staples
•
No Updates
HUMAN RESOURCES – Director Elizabeth O’Leary
• Lateral posted, 1 in background, 1 dismissed, police recruits: 1 pending and 6 sent for background, 3
investigations back. Police cadets posted until the 23rd, conditional offers sent to detention officers
COMMISSION INVESTIGATOR REPORT: Julie Browne, Commission Investigator
• August: open 6, closed 6, none to the Chief
• September: open 7, closed 6, none to the Chief
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS: None
BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS:
• Budget – Chair Jones absent
• Government/Community Liaison Committee – Chief covered it, working on the meeting schedules for next
year
• Awards and Incentives Committee – Waiting until January, seeking more commissioners to join this board
committee
• Ad Hoc Committee – No updates
• Citizen Complaint Oversight Committee – Met this afternoon, covered August and September, review only
closed cases
• Recruitment and Hiring – No update, sent questions to Sgt. Zolnai
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS – (Informational)
• Farhat – Nothing
• Bitely – No comments
• Watkins – No comment
• Cotton – No comments
• Hernandez – No comments
• Milton – Thanks to the Chief for being so approachable and being available to speak
• Brewster – Echo Commissioner Milton’s comments and wish Chief all the best, appreciate all the work you
and the Department do
• Jones – Absent
PUBLIC COMMENT: 1
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brewster moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:48 pm. Commissioner Milton made the motion with
Commissioner Bitely seconding.
By Vote: Yeas: 7
Nays: 0