Lansing’s protocol gray area raises concerns of ‘councilmanic interference’

Controversy over sex-sting operation persist as officials debate whether police commissioner's action was appropriate; Ethics expert: Such matters require 'an abundance of caution.'

By Todd A. Heywood 7/2/09

LANSING — In the study of ethical strictures that govern actions by public officials, there is a principle called “councilmanic interference,” a term that describes the extra weight that’s given to statements, inquiries and comments from elected and appointed officials by city employees. And in the capital city, officials are sorting out whether a request for a May 22 undercover sex-sting by the Lansing Police Department by an appointed member of the city’s Board of Police Commissioners stepped over the line and into the territory of councilmanic interference.

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6 Detroit mayoral hopefuls back-seated by hundreds running for city council, charter revision seats

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DETROIT — In partnership with the University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus, Detroit Public Television has launched a project to inform voters about the hundreds of candidates seeking public office in the city. Between the candidates for the Charter Revision Commission, Detroit City Council and mayor, 220 people are looking to stand out from the crowd [...]

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By Todd A. Heywood 6/30/09

LANSING — Documents released by city officials Tuesday evening show that Lt. Larry Klaus, who oversees the police department’s special operations unit, coordinated a controversial May 22 sex sting in Fenner Nature Center for responding a Board of Police Commissioners member’s requests that have been criticized as inappropriate and out of step with proper police protocol.

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Officials review if request for Lansing sex sting was appropriate

By Todd A. Heywood 6/30/09

LANSING — A variety of city officials, from council members to the mayor’s office to the city attorney, are trying to figure out what to do about the case of Jan Kolp, a Board of Police Commissioners member who said on Friday that she placed a call to the police’s special operations unit which triggered a controversial May sex-sting operation in a city nature center. But some are saying that it may be inappropriate for board officials to make such call, which could be leaning in the direction of special treatment.

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Lansing sex-sting operation sparks FOIA fight

By Todd A. Heywood 6/26/09

LANSING — A May 22 sex-sting operation in the city’s Fenner Nature Center has raised questions about command and control of police operations, especially after police officials have given conflicting information about the operation in recent weeks. A fight over a Freedom of Information Act request is headed to the city council on Monday.