EAST LANSING −City officials have removed the “interim” from Jennifer Brown’s title as leader of the city’s police department.
Brown had served as interim chief since the beginning of December, after the previous interim chief, Chad Pride, asked to return to his previous position as deputy chief pending his retirement in late January. Officials announced on May 15 that Brown has been named chief.
Brown joined the East Lansing department as a deputy chief in December 2023 after serving more than 15 years with Michigan State University’s police department. She held various supervisory roles at MSU, including sergeant and lieutenant, East Lansing officials said in a news release.
In the release, Brown said said she is “committed to fostering strong relationships between law enforcement and the people we serve” and will work “to ensure safety, inclusivity and excellence in policing.”
Brown is the city’s first permanent police chief since Kim Johnson stepped down in May 2024 amid an internal investigation, ending his second stint with the city. Johnson worked for the department from 1982 until 2012, attaining the rank of captain, then returned in 2020 after then-Chief Larry Sparkes retired amid controversy surrounding two excessive force investigations regarding the same officer.
Johnson was placed on leave in April 2024 after an internal complaint prompted an internal investigation by the city attorney. The city refused to release any details about the investigation or nature of the complaint.
Brown has lived in the Lansing area all her life and has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MSU, officials said.
Brown was one of four finalists for the position after the city conducted a national search. Other finalists were Nathaniel Clark, a nationally recognized public safety executive; Shane Ginnan, former chief of police in Warren Township in Indianapolis; and Earl Morrison, who has 29 years of experience in law enforcement and founded Leading and Learning with Character, a leadership development company.
Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: East Lansing removes ‘interim’ from Jennifer Brown’s title as leader of police department
Reporting by Ken Palmer, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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