Potential changes to an East Lansing ordinance governing police accountability are under scrutiny, following highly publicized welcome week police confrontations and allegations of excessive force.
The proposed changes would curb the powers of the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission, the public body responsible for investigating police misconduct. Debate over the changes has marked council meetings since early August and continues to loom over investigations into multiple viral incidents.
Critics argue the modifications would create a lack of accountability, wherein misconduct goes unchecked, as the police department will get to decide which allegations it wants to internally investigate. Some East Lansing business owners, however, have recently spoken in support of the police department, saying its presence is increasingly necessary as the downtown scene has become less safe…