Michigan State Police
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The Michigan State Police is the state police agency for the State of Michigan. The department was founded in 1917 as a war-time constabulary and eventually evolved into the modern agency that it is today. The department's enlisted members are called Troopers. The department had 1,835 sworn members as of June 2005.
| Michigan State Police | |
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| Headquarters | Lansing, Michigan |
| Membership | 3,000 sworn officers & 500+ professional staff |
| Current Superintendent | Col. Peter C. Munoz |
| Founded | April 19, 1917 |
| Road Stations | [N/A] |
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[edit] History
The Michigan Department of State Police began as a temporary, wartime emergency force for the purpose of domestic security during World War I. On April 19, 1917, Governor Albert Sleeper created the Michigan State Troops Permanent Force, (also known as the Michigan State Constabulary). With Colonel Roy C. Vandercook as the first commanding officer, this new force consisted of five Troops of mounted, dismounted and motorized units, totaling 300 men. On March 26, 1919, Public Act 26 reorganized the Constabulary as the permanent, peace-time Michigan State Police.
Throughout the history of the department, its members have participated in a multitude of important events. Some of the earliest duties of the fledgling department involved its troopers being dispatched (on horseback) to the iron-rich regions of the state's Upper Peninsula to guarantee the mining and distribution of the vital ore. MSP troopers were deployed in Benton Harbor in the summer of 2003 to quell civil unrest that was occurring within that city. Troopers were also deployed to Louisiana in September of 2005 following Hurricane Katrina to assist local authorities with search and rescue, law enforcement, and humanitarian efforts in the devastated city of New Orleans, Louisiana. In January and February of 2006, the Michigan State Police deployed several hundred Troopers to the City Of Detroit during Super Bowl XL and worked with local and federal agencies to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for the game and its related festivities.
[edit] Duties
Troopers with the Michigan State Police are entrusted with the authority to conduct investigations concerning violations of criminal and traffic statutes throughout the state, regardless of city, township, or county boundaries.
[edit] Divisions
The MSP consists of four bureaus encompassing many different divisions:
- The Field Services Bureau consists of two major regions. Region Two encompasses the metropolitan Detroit Area, and Region One consists of the rest of the state in its entirety. Combined, both regions contain seven districts encompassing sixty-four posts, seven detachments, and eight resident trooper concepts. Also included in the bureau are the Intelligence Section, Field Operations, and Motor Carrier Division. The Motor Carrier Division is the arm of the MSP that is responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to commercial motor vehicles. The Department also maintains a State Police Post in the Capitol building. These Officers provide Law Enforcement services to the members of the Legislature, Governors residence and thousands of visitors each year. Other facets of the Field Services Bureau include the aviation division, the department's various canine teams, and the Emergency Support Team (ES Team). Of all the department's Bureaus, it is the Field Services Bureau that members of the public most often encounter through their interactions with the agency's Troopers, Motor Carrier Officers, or other support staff.
- The Administrative Bureau consists of several divisions, including the training division, that provide administrative support to the department.
- The State Services Bureau consists of several divisions that provide technical and operational support to the department. Key among its divisions is the Forensic Science Division, which is comprised of seven laboratories and ten additional locations which provide polygraph testing services. State-of-the-art forensic laboratory services, including crime scene and 'post-blast' investigations, drug analysis, document examination, polygraph testing, latent print examination, latent print examination, AFIS, DNA analysis, toxicology analysis, blood/alcohol analysis, firearms and toolmark examination, arson evidence analysis, and serology and trace evidence analysis are provided to all Michigan law enforcement agencies at no cost.
- The Executive Division exists to provide administrative support to the Director by providing information for executive-level decision making, supporting agency-wide strategic planning, representing the Director outside the agency, developing and disseminating department policy, formulating agency positions on public policy issues, media relations, and ensuring high standards of organizational effectiveness and individual professionalism. The executive division also contains the Governor's Security Detail.
[edit] Department rank structure
The MSP uses a paramilitary ranking system, as follows (from highest to lowest rankings): Colonel, Lt. Colonel, Major, Captain, Inspector, First Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Trooper and Recruit.
[edit] Patrol Vehicles
The familiar blue MSP Patrol Car is referred to as "the blue goose" by members of the department. As of 2006, the department's fleet consists of primarily Ford Police Interceptors. However, the MSP has begun adding Dodge Charger patrol vehicles to its fleet (10 for the 2006 fiscal year). The department also utilizes the Chevrolet Tahoe for canine and motor carrier use. Several other varieties of vehicles, including Chevrolet Suburbans and Impalas, are used by the department's specialized divisions. Fully-marked patrol vehicles feature a single red overhead light that rotates when activated. MSP vehicles also feature a clear plastic device, referred to as a "shark fin," on the hood that lights up when activated. Patrol units also use red and blue LEDs facing to the rear of the vehicle, as well as headlight and tail light flashers.
The MSP also utilizes "slick top" patrol units for traffic enforcement. There are two types of traffic cars: the traditional blue patrol car sans the traditional "gumball" light, and a semi-marked variety that is painted in colors other than blue and marked only on the passenger side. Available in tan, red, white, silver, and black, these units also use hidden LED lights to increase their effectiveness and have been extremely successful.
Both the rotating overhead light and the shark fin have traditionally been synonymous with the MSP. The shark fin was used for a side stop, which was employed when a Trooper was stopping another vehicle. The Trooper would pull along the driver's side of the vehicle he wished to stop and would activate the shark fin's light, alerting the other driver that he was to pull over. The side stop is no longer used by the department. The rotating red light has been used by the MSP since 1960 and the current style red overhead light has been in use by the agency since 1979. The red overhead lights on some MSP cars are 20-25 years old. Both the blue hue of the patrol cars and the red hue of the rotating overhead light are distinctive and unique to the MSP; the department has used the blue paint scheme and the current door decals since 1956.
[edit] Aviation Unit
The five aircraft in the Michigan State Police Aviation Unit are assigned several duties:
- search and rescue
MSP Vehicles at Michigan Stadium - relays
- traffic enforcement
- traffic control
- security
- training
- investigative and administrative flights
As of 2006, the MSP operates two helicopters and three fixed wing aircraft:
[edit] Mobile Command Vehicle
The Michigan State Police operate one Mobile Command Vehicle as of 2006. The 37 foot long vehicle has an International chassis and engine and weighs 25,500 lbs. It is equipped with GPS, satellite television, a diesel electric generator, and a lavatory. The vehicle is also equipped with a variety of radio systems that allow those operating it to communicate effectively in the field. The vehicle was utilized during Hurricane Katrina relief in September of 2005 and is also frequently used at large events throughout the state.
[edit] Trivia
- The department's value statement is: A PROUD tradition of SERVICE through EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY, and COURTESY. The department requires that the emphasized words be shown in capitalized print when the statement is reproduced in any fashion.
- The department's work sites are called "Posts," much as a local police department's offices are referred to as "stations."
- As of 2005, 49 Michigan State Police officers had died in the line of duty.
- As of June 2006, the Director of the MSP was Colonel Peter C. Munoz. He was appointed to the position of Director by Governor Jennifer Granholm and was preceded by Tadarial J. Sturdivant.
- Recruits must complete an intensive twenty-week training academy prior to being confirmed as a Trooper. The militaristic, residential school is held at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing, MI.
- Authored by Inspector Phillip D. Schertzing, "Preserve, Protect, and Defend: An Illustrated History" (ISBN 1-56311-604-9) is a 416 page book that covers MSP history from 1917 until the present day.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Michigan State Police (State of Michigan)
- Fallen Officers of the Michigan State Police
- MSP Guide to Services
- The MSP Patrol Car (non-state site)
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