John Morin stories

John Morin is a former Lansing resident who now lives in Holt.

A message to Lansing leaders

Elections have consequences, as many of us learned with Trump.  Myself, I usually vote straight ticket Democrat.  In my lifetime the Democrats most often were all inclusive and shared with everyone.  To me, that's the American Dream.  Lansing, being the state capital, leans to the left and as such claims to be a sanctuary city.  We elect our city leaders to lead us, and create an environment that allows us to reach our potential.  Each individual, whether a police officer, lawyer, or politician takes an oath of office reinforcing our expectations.  The City Council has a mission statement that lays out what we expect as citizens of Lansing. 

When I failed going up the chain of command when I had concerns about lies on police reports and evidence being destroyed, I was told that I had insurance and I was wasting the time of the LPD.  I decided to go to a city council meeting and see if I could resolve the issues at that level.  I appreciated the concern of Carol Wood after the meeting, but she was one of three council members to turn their back on me just for suggesting that we need the police who work for Lansing, to live in Lansing.  It was no different than when a group of southside residents asked Mayor Virg Benero why he always hires police chiefs that live outside of Lansing.  His response was that it would be illegal to discuss the matter.  And then you pay out $130,000 to the city attorney when she quits with no reason, and you won't tell either.  But for me, you never called me back after numerous requests.  Same thing

with Chief Yankowski, never wanted to talk about corrupt cops.  And Virg wants to be mayor again, for what, more of the same.   Many of you send out campaign

John at Police Commission - click picture for video

flyers and often claim right off the support you have from the police and their union, down near the bottom you may reference citizens.  Mayor Andy Schor did what everybody did when I spoke with him face to face, pass the buck.  Mark Lawrence, pass the buck, Police Commission and Chief Green, pass the buck,  Brantley, what does he do again?  Under Trump we all knew he never accepted responsibility and it was always someone else at fault.  I can only ask, where does the buck stop in Lansing? 

Should officers live in the communities they police?

     Your police department has caused me a great deal of grief.  How many others have been given the hard sell on monthly donations to the police union?  Is that where I went wrong?  If I see a person being assaulted, it is my nature to react and speak up.  Did that start the chain of events in my life?  I am sorry, but in my life, the truth is very important to me, especially when dealing with police.  Coming to my house with lies will result in me telling you to get off my property.  Yet they raided my house based on lies and only after drugging Sheri each and every time.  I worked hard helping Sheri find a positive direction in life, yet I failed to protect her from them.  Lansing is overwhelmed with a drug problem.  Many who read this know the struggle: you keep going because you care.  I spent many years making the house on Francis into the best around.  When not at work, there was always something to do on the house. 

     You are the people who can make a difference for the Lansing residents.  Police should be required to wear body cameras when they raid a person's home.  They should not be allowed to destroy a person's home who has not been convicted of a crime.  The police are the witnesses we rely on as citizens, often testifying against defendants.  I personally know certain LPD officers have lied and should be investigated.  The LPD intentionally allowed criminals to get away that had started to break into my garage, and then omitted body camera footage when I attempted to confront the criminals.  I was rebuffed when I offered a $1,000 reward to the two detectives who later damaged my hard drive to the camera system.

     When I was trying to close down the dispensary through Simon and asked for a set of keys, he had none and suggested I break into the building.  Eddie, my lawyer suggested I white out parts of the lease and recopy it, altering the lease.  I told both of them that I will not commit a crime over what I paid for.  Everything I do has to be legal.  Failed there also.  Marc did call the LPD on me once when I confronted him over what he was doing and I was told to leave.  At a later date, after the dispensary closed, a two men and a truck arrived with everything from the dispensary.  I have receipts for rents and utilities I paid when I was still involved.

     The City of Lansing has failed the citizens.  The education system has been a disgrace with constant requests for millions, yet poor SAT scores and high absenteeism.  Over five thousand homeless in a small city, and most good jobs taken up by others living outside of Lansing.  I found that many - when they can afford it - move out of Lansing.  Since I work outside of Lansing, I have met many former Lansing residents.  They have no desire of ever returning.  When my house and garage were robbed, police came out and declared it an inside job done by me.  When I called and asked, it was an inside job done by Sheri.   Then they surrounded my house.   I know the truth and who robbed me and they showed their hand a few times.  Too many are turning to crime, too many people being murdered.  There are many other things I could address which makes Lansing a city where failure is the norm.

     It is somewhat sad that many I spoke with over the last few years told me that I was going to fail in standing up to city hall.  At one time I was downloading everything onto a face book account I started, but I was banned for life after putting up a few videos.  I am not an activist, but I do comment on what I believe in.  Many will argue different, but in my lifetime I have never carried a weapon.  In fact I have never assaulted anyone for no reason.  I have defended myself when attacked, but I have never taken a first swing.  Is there any liability on the part of Lansing for what has occurred?  Lawyers will have to argue that.  All I know is this is what happened and it is up to you to decide if what happened was right or wrong.  Myself, I had planned on retiring at sixty five, having saved enough on my retirement to pay off the house in Lansing.  All that went to fight the charges from the police raid.  It was so bad that I finally had to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  It took me a minute to recover and move from Lansing and anymore potential dangers.  Three times others tried to harm me, once badly beaten, once with a bullet landing at my feet, and a third time being pushed off of a porch.  All three times the LPD actively worked for the benefit of the offender.  Now that I no longer live in Lansing, I get more than three to four hours of sleep each night.

     Finally, writing this at the age of sixty five is not what I wanted to do.  Since you chose to ignore me when I needed help, I failed to pay income taxes to Lansing for the last four years.  That's my crime, and if you want to arrest me, take me in.  Because I will never pay a penny on it.  That's how I defund corrupt police.