Michigan State Police To Hire 20% More Troopers

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's public safety plan unveiled Tuesday would add 180 state troopers and 20 forensic scientists beginning in June. Funding would enable the Michigan State Police to grow their road-patrol ranks by 19%.

Photo: POLICE filePhoto: POLICE file

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's public safety plan unveiled Tuesday would add 180 state troopers and 20 forensic scientists beginning in June.

The governor said his plan, which must still be approved by the Legislature, seeks to implement "smart justice" through enforcement and prevention initiatives.

Funding would enable the Michigan State Police to grow their road-patrol ranks by 19%, adding 180 road troopers to the current 960. The agency has seen its ranks shrink due to attrition in the past decade. There were 1,351 road troopers in 2002.

In addition, Flint would receive $4.5 million to reopen its city jail and relieve crowding in the Genesee County jail, reports the Detroit News.

Gov. Snyder will also ask the Legislature to prioritize $10 million from the $25 million Economic Vitality Incentive Program to provide grants to communities for local law enforcement, emergency first responders, firefighters, and criminal justice systems.

The state will also begin developing a next-generation 911 system to allow citizens to send text messages, photos, and video to dispatchers from the scenes of accidents, crimes, and fires.

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