EAST LANSING, Mich. — The collaborative policing team formed by the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) and the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety (MSU DPPS) has officially reached six months in operation.
The P.E.A.C.E. Team, which is an acronym for Proactive Engagement and Community Enhancement, primarily works from Thursday through Saturday evenings in the City of East Lansing and on MSU’s campus.
The P.E.A.C.E. Team is committed to de-escalation, community mental health and constitutional policing. Since inception, all four members of the team have completed Crisis Intervention Training, which consists of 40 hours of instruction and scenarios that focus on getting those in need into the mental health system versus the criminal justice system.
The P.E.A.C.E. Team has also had a significant impact on public safety by seizing illegal firearms and making arrests. From its inception through the end of April, the team has seized 12 firearms, arrested 39 people and sought 77 criminal charges.
“We are grateful to have this opportunity to work across Grand River Avenue with our colleagues from MSU DPPS. Together, the P.E.A.C.E. Team adds to public safety and community engagement for residents and visitors to East Lansing,” said ELPD Detective Justan Horst. The rest of the P.E.A.C.E. Team includes MSU DPPS Detective Sergeant James Terrill, MSU DPPS Officer Falysha Edmondson and ELPD Detective Ben Mommersteeg.