EAST LANSING, Mich. — At the request of the East Lansing City Council, the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) has gathered race data on officer-initiated contacts.
Officer-initiated contacts include any interaction or enforcement taken by an officer at their discretion, including traffic stops. It does not include calls taken through the 911 dispatch system. The most recent data shows that African American individuals account for approximately 20 percent of these contacts, while making up approximately 8 percent of the population.
“No matter how impartial we think we are, the data shows that we over-stop African Americans, which is not acceptable,” said East Lansing Mayor Ruth Beier.
At its next discussion-only meeting, which is currently unscheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council will discuss additional steps to promote fair and impartial policing. These steps will include, but not be limited to establishing an independent Police Oversight Commission and analyzing race data with respect to use of force. In addition, ELPD Interim Police Chief Steve Gonzalez will institute the following changes:
- Race data on officer-initiated stops will be released every month. Senior command will provide regular feedback to officers based on the data.
- The entire sworn police staff will attend the Michigan State Police Fair and Impartial Policing Training this summer.
- Eight command and police officers will travel to Detroit to attend the 17th Annual Images and Perceptions Diversity Conference hosted by 3D Consulting and Communications. This conference is a multi-dimensional approach to diversity training and cultural competency.
- By the end of 2020, all sworn personnel will have been through a proctored visit of the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University. This visit focuses on how the United States’ history of racism impacts communities, including policing.
- An additional ten police officers will attend the Conversations about Race series sponsored by the Michigan State University Police Department.
“We are committed to making these changes and any other changes needed to make sure that everyone feels safe and welcome in the City of East Lansing,” said Mayor Beier.
ELPD began tracking race data on officer-initiated contacts in February 2020. The tables below show the statistics gathered for February and March 2020.
February 2020
Race | Contacts | Percentage of Total |
Asian | 91 | 6% |
Unknown | 144 | 10% |
White | 952 | 63% |
American Indian/Native Alaskan | 4 | >1% |
Pacific Islander | 4 | >1% |
African American | 309 | 20% |
March 2020
Race | Contacts | Percentage of Total |
Asian | 59 | 8% |
Unknown | 80 | 11% |
White | 459 | 61% |
American Indian/Native Alaskan | 4 | >1% |
Pacific Islander | 0 | 0 |
African American | 147 | 19% |