The Michigan State Police announced a restructuring plan that includes closing 21 posts and identifying 12 other posts as detachments that won't offer public visitation only be appointment.

Posts in Detroit and Battle Creek are among those slated for closure. Under the plan, the state police won't be laying off any troopers, according to Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, the state police's director.

Under this new "regional policing plan," the agency will reduce the number of fully operational posts from 62 to 29. The agency is making the reductions to close a $20.7-million budget cut it faces next fiscal year.

Troopers will be deployed throughout the state from posts, detachments, and as resident troopers. Posts will remain fully operational and open to the public while detachments will serve as buildings where troopers can start and end their shifts, accomplish administrative tasks, and meet with the public by appointment.

Detachments are not open for regular business hours. Resident troopers are assigned to rural areas of the state and work directly from their home. 

"Michigan is a much different state today than when the MSP was established nearly a century ago," according to Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue. "The new regional post locations were selected for their strategic locations in the region, their long-term structural viability, and for their ability to accept new technology."

The Michigan State Police will implement technologies to provide a "mobile office environment" that allows troopers to perform many administrative duties directly from their patrol cars. Mobile computing capabilities will be expanded to provide patrol vehicles with the ability to electronically process ticketing and traffic accident data, as well as link real-time information from the roadside to the courts.

The closed posts include Ithaca, Corunna, Adrian, Richmond, Ypsilanti, Groveland, Detroit, Bad Axe, Bridgeport, Gladwin, Bridgman, Battle Creek, Hastings, Newaygo, Traverse City, Cheboygan, Manistee, L'Anse, Stephenson, Munising, and Iron River.