ELPD Officer Tells DDA of Downtown Public Safety Concerns
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority gathered Thursday (Nov. 16) to hear about future city projects and discuss safety concerns in the downtown area of East Lansing.
Community and Economic Development Administrator Heather Pope began the DDA meeting by sharing updates with the authority about ongoing projects downtown.
The downtown projects include a mural to be installed spring 2024, revisions being made regarding trash receptacles and considerations about installment of public restrooms. City of East Lansing staff visited Grand Rapids Friday (Nov. 17) to learn more about that city’s recently installed public restrooms.
ELPD Officer Harrison tells DDA there has been increased violence and nightlife in downtown.
The majority of the meeting focused on public safety in the downtown area of East Lansing, beginning with a presentation from East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) Officer Katey Harrison.
Harrison identified concerns from ELPD about increased violence and nightlife downtown, pointing to a greater number of people carrying firearms, as well as more incidents of gun violence.
“Now, I wouldn’t take my family downtown [on a weekend night] and that’s a problem for me,” DDA member Greg Ballein said. “I shouldn’t feel like that in my own community.”
Harrison identified parking garages as a hotspot for nighttime activity, noting that the lack of lighting and adequate cameras make them difficult to monitor. She also named the bars Fieldhouse and Harper’s, both on Albert Avenue, as “hotspots” for students on weekend nights and noted the ELPD was currently in contact with the owners of those establishments.
“Downtown is not safe anymore, I’ll be blunt with you,” Harrison told the DDA. “There’s a lot of issues and they’re not getting better. Something should be done.”
Harrison noted that while violence and illegal activity were increasing, officer staffing was also at an all-time low, making it more difficult for ELPD officers to monitor and prevent incidents particularly in the downtown area. Harrison, who joined ELPD in 2017, told DDA members the minimum number of patrolling officers on the road when she joined the force was six officers. That number is now reduced to two or three officers.
“I love that you guys are interested in helping because we need help,” Harrison told DDA members.
DDA members agreed with Harrison to focus on installments of lighting and cameras for future development projects downtown, in order to support ELPD’s efforts to curb illegal nightlife and make East Lansing residents feel safer.
The Brownfield Redevelopment Authority convened immediately after the DDA meeting, but discussed no significant issues. The authorities will reconvene at 12 p.m. Dec. 21 in the 300 Room of the Technology Innovation Center.
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