EAST LANSING, Mich. – East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas has announced that Larry Sparkes will serve as the new chief of the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD).
Chief Sparkes was part of a competitive hiring process for the ELPD chief position, including an interview with a community panel and round-robin interviews with key City leadership and staff members. He was ultimately selected from a group of three finalists for the position of chief.
Chief Sparkes has been serving as the interim chief of ELPD since June 2017 and, prior to that, served as captain of the department from August 2015 to June 2017. His dedicated service with ELPD dates back to 1987.
“Chief Sparkes’ proven leadership abilities, professionalism and dedication to serving the East Lansing community are among the reasons he was selected as ELPD’s new chief,” said Lahanas. “We look forward to his continued achievements with the department and have the utmost confidence in his ability to step into this new leadership role.”
Chief Sparkes began his career with ELPD serving as a jail service officer from 1987-1997. He was officially sworn-in as a police officer with the department in 1997 and, within that capacity, served as a road patrol officer, school liaison and student alliance officer. In 2004, he was promoted to a road patrol sergeant and, in 2009, he became an administrative sergeant. Chief Sparkes was promoted to lieutenant in 2011 and captain in 2015.
“It’s been an honor serving the citizens of East Lansing over my 30 years with the department and I am looking forward to continuing to serve the community in this new leadership capacity,” said Chief Sparkes. “I am also looking forward to continuing to serve with the hard-working and dedicated officers and personnel who make ELPD what it is today – a department committed to the safety and well-being of those who call East Lansing home.”
The official swearing-in ceremony for ELPD Chief Larry Sparkes will take place on Friday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road. Members of the media are welcome to attend.