Statement Racial Diversity March 6, 2019
Statement Racial Diversity March 6, 2019
Statement Racial Diversity March 6, 2019
My second executive order as Mayor established the Mayor’s Diversity and Inclusion
Advisory Council. One of their tasks is to provide recommendations addressing disparities
or the lack of participation of people of color, in employment and other aspects of city
government.
Both our Lansing Police Department (LPD) and Lansing Fire Department (LFD) are
tremendous assets to the City of Lansing and the entire region. LPD has made it a priority
to recruit, train, and retain a diverse police force. All new LPD officers are trained in racial
sensitivity at the Ferris State Jim Crow Museum, Holocaust Memorial Center, and the Arab-
American Museum. Furthermore, LPD has partnered with the Department of Justice over the
past several years to train all officers in Fair and Impartial Policing, Implicit Bias, and
Procedural Justice. LPD continues to keep cultural competency training as a priority.
All that said, we must maintain vigilance and continue to make progress in the area of
diversity. For that reason, I am implementing an action plan to ensure that there is racial
sensitivity and fair treatment within LFD ranks. This plan will include:
4. Training – LFD will continue to have regular racial sensitivity trainings in the
department that are more than just online.
5. We do not, and will not stand for discrimination or racial insensitivity in any
department.
6. We will continue to have qualified firefighters that are ready to respond to any
emergency in the City of Lansing.
7. We will have concerns addressed appropriately - Any concerns raised internally will
be thoroughly researched by our Human Resources Department. Citizens can raise
concerns with our independent Fire Board of Commissioners. Additionally, we have
an independent investigator that works with the city as needed.
We will continue to proactively engage with our young people, and will continue to be
open and transparent through our partnerships with One Love Global and other parties in
Lansing. We will also engage the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation framework in
Lansing to actively inform and discuss these issues with the citizens. Though we know
trainings, programs, etc. will not completely solve the problems facing our nation, we do
know these are necessary steps that we can take in the short-term to work toward meeting
our long-term goal of racial equity.
The City of Lansing will be vigilant in ensuring that the public safety needs, as well as the
needs associated with the other city services, are met. I have complete confidence in our
employees to get the job done on behalf of our citizens, and I will do my best to remove
any trust barriers that may exist in our community.
I look forward to working with all members of our great City of Lansing to move forward
together for the benefit of ALL citizens of Lansing.
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