EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – East Lansing’s Unbiased Police Oversight Fee is just not proud of some attainable modifications to its authority.
A brand new contract between the Metropolis of East Lansing and the union representing its police division seems to be to alter some insurance policies that fee management says will restrict members’ energy.
The agreed-upon contract establishes a coverage that differs from the ordinance that governs the Police Oversight Fee. The town council has to vote to amend the ordinance to match the contract.
Fee Chair Ernest Conerly mentioned the modifications will solely enable Commissioners to view physique digital camera footage for a set period of time earlier than they can not entry the video anymore. The chair mentioned that is regarding as a result of all the commissioners produce other jobs and will not have the ability to watch movies sufficient earlier than they expire.
The opposite large change the Conerly mentioned, considerations investigations into citizen complaints. The chair mentioned that earlier than the brand new contract, each the police division and the fee would examine complaints.
Then a choice can be made on what motion, if any, ought to be taken. With the contract modifications, although, Conerly mentioned the fee would solely have the ability to examine after the police division has completed and closed its personal investigation.
“Essentially, what that does is it makes it less likely that the police will care…well, they don’t care now, even with the way it is, but it’s more likely that they will care even less. Because their part is done so it might make it harder for us to get information,” mentioned Conerly.
The fee is asking the town council to undertake a movement to check the contract bargaining settlement with the ordinance to ensure the modifications are mandatory. They’re additionally asking that the vote on the ordinance modifications be pushed again to October twenty first. 6 Information reached out to the union representing ELPD officers, however has not gotten a response.
