Lansing Police Chief: ‘There is no new policy. There is a new chief’

In a contentious meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the Lansing City Council, Lansing Chief of Police Teresa Szymanski defended her decision to withdraw officers from the Capitol on March 16 during union protests.

The Thursday meeting was the first time Szymanski has addressed the controversial issue before the council. On March 18, Szymanski issued a terse written statement about her decision to remove officers from the Capitol noting Michigan State Police “required no assistance with arrests.” However, radio traffic released by the city of Lansing as the result of a Michigan Messenger Freedom of Information Act request showed Lansing officers had been dispatched to transport three protesters to the city jail. Those three protesters had been arrested for attempting to allow other protesters into the building, which had been closed.

In addition to the radio traffic, MSP Capt. Gary Nix told Messenger that Lansing Police informed him they had a new policy wherein they would not arrest, transport or lodge persons arrested while peacefully protesting at the Capitol.

The three members of the Public Safety Committee told Michigan Messenger that they had heard nothing of the new policy. On Thursday Szymanski was asked about the policy.

“There is no new policy. There is a new policy chief,” Szymanski said. “I will not arrest and lodge peaceful protesters. I am in unison with the Mayor on this.”

She said that as with all police actions, the team had reviewed the actions of that day and that she had “learned” from the incident. She noted that she may have pulled officers out of the Capitol early.

She also noted that MSP and LPD did not have a mutual aide agreement. Mutual aide agreements are stuck between municipalities in order make sure there are enough police and fire officials in an area during an emergency. Those agreements generally lay out when and how municipalities will reimburse each other for rendering assistance.

But she was also dismissive of concerns from state lawmakers as well as members of the Council.

“This is a non-issue,” she told the committee. “This is a non-event.”

She said that MSP and LPD have met since the incident and her directives stand and MSP understands. She said the relationship between the two police agencies was strong, and that if MSP calls for assistance, LPD will be there.

Szymanski refused to answer specific questions about the March 16 arrests, and Randy Hannan, Mayor Virg Bernero’s spokesman and deputy chief of staff, directed her to walk away from the media Thursday following the Public Safety Committee meeting. Szymanski’s only statement to the press was, “I have answered all the questions about this.”

In reality, there are many open questions that the Messenger would have asked if given the opportunity. Why, for example, was the MSP not informed of this new policy earlier in the day on March 16 when they consulted with the LPD on arrangements for any arrests at the protest? Or at least when they called and asked the LPD to come and transport those who were arrested? Why was there no mention of this policy at all until after the officers had been pulled from the scene?

Despite the lack of answers to such questions, Second Ward Councilmember Tina Houghton said Szymanski’s explanations addressed her concerns.

But Public Safety Committee Chair Carol Wood said she supported protests and the idea of not arresting peaceful protesters. However, she said the actions of the chief on March 16 raised questions about communications between the Chief and her on-site officers — particularly in light of the radio traffic which shows officers calling for back up at the time Szymanski ordered them to withdraw from the Capitol. She also expressed concern that the new policy was not in writing.

“My next question would be has there been anything given to the Board of Police Commissioners about this?” Wood asked.

That board oversees the development of policies as well as the discipline of officers.

Messenger emailed the members of that board on Friday morning, but received no response back from any of them at the time of publication.

Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) says the situation clearly supports the allegations by many that the withdrawal of Lansing officers was politically motivated. In earlier interviews, Jones called the withdrawal of Lansing officers “abnormal” and in an interview Friday, Jones said the city and the Michigan State Police needed to sign a formal mutual aide agreement.

The former Eaton County Sheriff also said that he would consider hearings on the matter.

“I will certainly talk to [Senate Majority Leader] Randy Richardville and see if [the Republican leadership] would like me to pursue this more,” Jones said.

And Speaker of the House Jase Bolger (R-Marshall) has also weighed in on Szymanski’s testimony.

“Regardless of what policy any local police department puts into place, there needs to be consistency and a focus on the safety of the public and the officers,” said Ari Adler, Bolger’s spokesman. “Any municipality that adjusts its policing policies depending on which way the political winds are blowing is putting at risk its officers, their colleagues in other departments and the public as a whole. There is no room for politics in police work and no one should stand for these sorts of games.”

Coincidentally, in a letter to the Michigan Messenger on Wednesday, a day before Szymanski said no policy existed, the City of Lansing requested a 10 day extension before fulfilling a Freedom of Information Act request filed on May 31 with the city. The request sought copies of the alleged policy — which MSP said existed — as well as emails, memos and other communications detailing the drafting of the alleged policy and any orders to LPD personnel outlining the new policy.