In 2013, Mike Yankowski was named Chief of Police for the Lansing Police Department (LPD). He has been with the LPD since 1994, serving as a Police Officer, Canine Handler, and Field Training Officer. In 2001, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he was assigned to road patrol and served as LPD’s Canine Unit Supervisor. In 2007, he was promoted again, this time to the rank of Lieutenant where he supervised the night shift road patrol. In 2008, he was assigned to manage the Internal Affairs Unit. Promoted in March 2010 to the rank of Captain, Chief Yankowski was assigned to lead the South Precinct. Shortly after taking the helm of the South Precinct, he was tasked with the consolidation of the North and South Precincts into one operation.Chief Yankowski was instrumental in developing and executing the implementation of the Data Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS), Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.), Capitol Area Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), and Body Worn Camera Program at the LPD. He recently spearheaded efforts to establish an Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust (ALPACT) program in Metro Lansing for which he serves as the Co-Chair.
Chief Yankowski has been instrumental in securing collaborative partnerships with the Michigan State Police (MSP) Secure Cities and the Department of Justice National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) for the Lansing Police Department.
Chief Yankowski graduated from Ferris State University as a student athlete (Football) in 1994 where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. In 2017, he received the college’s Criminal Justice Distinguished Alumni Award. He is a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Staff and Command where he was named Class President of the Fourth Class.
Chief Yankowski is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Police Research Executive Forum (PERF), and Michigan Association for Chiefs of Police (MACP). In 2016, he was appointed to the Michigan Citizen-Community Emergency Response Coordination Council (MCCERCC) by Governor Rick Snyder, and in 2017, he was appointed a member of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) Recruiting Task Force. Chief Yankowski is also a member of the Ingham County Opiate Task Force.
In addition to these memberships and appointments, Chief Yankowski is a board member of the following organizations:
- Greater Lansing Old Newsboys Organization
- Y.M.C.A. Lansing Chapter
- H.O.P.E. Scholarship
- Promise Scholarship
- Partners in Crisis
- Lansing Safety Council
- Ferris State Criminal Justice Advisory Board
- Mid-Michigan Police Academy Advisory Board.