Alum Spotlight: Jennifer Brown, ELPD Chief
June 25, 2025
Jennifer Brown is an alum of the School of Criminal Justice and the Police Chief for East Lansing Police Department.
Growing up in the Lansing area, Jennifer Brown always knew that she wanted to be a Spartan and pursue a degree at Michigan State University (MSU). After graduating from Lansing-Everett High School, Brown made that dream a reality and pursued her bachelor's degree in criminal justice from MSU with intentions of a future career in Juvenile Justice.
Brown began her career in juvenile justice as a school safety officer. At the time, many of Brown’s co-workers were retired police officers who, hearing about her desire to make a strong and positive impact on her community, encouraged her to consider law enforcement. After contemplating the pros and cons of a potential career change, Brown decided to enroll in the Police Academy.
Having developed a strong bond with the East Lansing community while studying at MSU, Brown wanted to return to the area, applying for positions with the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) and MSU Police Department (MSUPD). Ultimately, Brown chose to join MSUPD as an Officer.
Throughout the 15 years Brown worked at MSUPD, she would work her way up the ranks to become a Lieutenant. Eventually, she would leave law enforcement to work in the private sector. During this time, Brown never lost her desire and passion for helping people and impacting the community around her, instead she brought this passion to her roles in the private sector.
Brown’s renewed interest in returning to a career in law enforcement was spurred by a conversation with her daughter, who expressed interest in law enforcement as a career. Their conversations about preparing for a law enforcement career made Brown consider the field of law enforcement again.
Brown officially returned to law enforcement in 2023 when she joined the East Lansing Police Department as Deputy Chief. In December 2024, Brown was named Interim Police Chief of ELPD and in May 2025, Brown was sworn in as Chief of Police.
Brown enters the role of Chief of Police in a difficult time for law enforcement. Specifically relating to recruitment and retention – a challenge Chief Brown is fully committed to combatting. Brown says that recruitment and retention, while related, are separate issues, saying “You already have to solve one problem: recruiting someone to join your team. There are things you can do to get people to join, but the things that convince people to join your team aren’t necessarily the same things that make them want to stay. We have to find a way to improve both.”
One initiative Chief Brown is pioneering to improve retention is establishing a health and wellness program for all employees of ELPD. Brown says an increased focus on both the mental health and physical health of her team will not only aid retention but is also critical to the success of ELPD’s mission to serve the East Lansing and MSU communities.
Brown says that the reason she returned to law enforcement is that it is a rewarding field to work in. As an Officer, directly serving the community and saving lives was the reward. As Chief, Brown says knowing that she is helping officers develop into the leaders they want to be and supporting their wellness is the reward.
Outside of her role as Chief, Brown is an avid golfer and certified yoga instructor. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her children. Brown’s advice for current students at MSU is to appreciate all that the University has to offer, immerse themselves in the student experience, join student groups, attend events, pursue internships, and study abroad.
