Most Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers expressed a lack of confidence in the department’s leadership in a recent internal poll of membership, prompting calls for the leadership to resign from Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, a Porter Township Republican who is running for governor.
In a one-question survey conducted by the Michigan State Police Troopers Association between June 2 and June 6, 98% (1,167 members) expressed no confidence in the leadership of Col. James Grady and Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe.
The union reported that approximately 75% of its more than 1,500 members responded to the survey.
“It’s time for him to go,” said Nesbitt in a one-on-one interview with Local 4 on June 9 in downtown Detroit. “It’s time for new leadership. It’s time to improve the morale of the state police. It’s time to actually get back to what they’re doing—protecting the life and property of the citizens of Michigan.”
Nesbitt went further: “When 98% of your employees say that you are doing an ineffective and poor job, something needs to change. The leadership needs to change. And if the governor’s not willing to change it, that’s why I’ve called on him to resign.”
Nesbitt also promised that, if elected governor, he would act swiftly to replace the top leadership at MSP.
“Day one,” Nesbitt said. “Somebody that can lead the police officers that actually has the backing of the blue — that professionalizes and makes sure we have the most professional state police officers in the nation.”
The MSP Command Officers Association also conducted a similar internal vote, and 90% of its members reported no confidence in the department’s current leadership.
Governor’s office, MSP push back
In response to the report, both the governor’s office and MSP defended Col. Grady’s leadership.
A spokesperson for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement, saying in part:
“Thanks to the work of Colonel Grady, Michigan has seen major drops in violent crime. He’s also had troopers’ backs by fighting for pay raises.”
The Michigan State Police issued a more detailed statement defending Grady’s tenure, citing investments in personnel, equipment, and training.
“It has been a priority for Colonel Grady to conduct in-person visits to MSP worksites to listen to member feedback. During these visits, he’s engaged in meaningful conversations, including seeking input from the membership about morale and opportunities for areas of improvement.
Under Colonel Grady’s leadership, the department has continued to invest in better training and professional development opportunities, updated equipment, and improved technology. Further, dozens of new troopers joined the ranks last month, and this year’s proposed budget includes pay raises for troopers and sergeants.”
Michigan State Police
The department said Col. Grady remains committed to moving the department forward and supporting the men and women of the Michigan State Police.
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Michigan State Police have beefed up security at the Capitol Building after rocker Ted Nugent carried a firearm inside the building despite a ban.
Michigan Capitol Commission Chair Bill Kandler said state police started stationing another trooper at the building’s north entrance in the days after the June 25 incident to help screen visitors for firearms.
Nugent, a Michigan native and avid hunter, was brought in June 25 to testify before a joint House committee about accountability for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
As he testified, some lawmakers realized that Nugent had a firearm on his person. Guns are banned in the Capitol, with exception to lawmakers, on-duty law enforcement and other security personnel.
Michigan State Police said the weapons detection system at the north entrance alerted police of a possible weapon when Nugent entered. However, the sole trooper staffing the entrance didn’t notice the alert until Nugent had already left the screening area.
“The (firearm detection) equipment all worked fine,” Kandler said. “It was just human error and it’s not a good thing. But adding another person there, which we were planning to do anyway, eventually, I think it will solve the problem. I hope it will.”
The north entrance is a smaller one and used mainly by staff and contractors, Kandler said. The building’s other entrances all have at least two troopers stationed there.
Michigan State Police did not comment on the added security.
“We are committed to the safety and security of all who work at and visit the Capitol, and we’ll be reviewing this situation to ensure it does not happen again,” said MSP spokesperson Shanon Banner.
State troopers waited until Nugent completed his testimony before approaching him to explain that firearms are banned inside the Capitol.
Kandler and some lawmakers said police should’ve acted sooner.
“As soon as (the firearm) was discovered, that that happened, it should have been removed immediately,” Kandler said.
State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, was one of the lawmakers who noticed Nugent’s gun and alerted security during the hearing.
She previously said she hopes MSP enacts policy to always and immediately enforce the gun ban regardless of wherever the person with the firearm is inside the Capitol.
“Someone who should not have had a firearm in the Capitol had one, and that should not be permitted,” she said. “I don’t think that Ted Nugent was trying to put anyone in harm’s way.
“But if someone else is permitted, it doesn’t matter how far away they are from the scanner when someone realizes it, they should not be allowed to carry a firearm around in a place where they are not supposed to have it. That can be very, very dangerous.”
The Michigan Capitol Commission that Kandler chairs is in charge of managing, maintaining and restoring the Capitol Building and its grounds.
It’s also the body that issued a ban on open carry in the Capitol in 2021 and then concealed carry in 2023. The bans were prompted by armed protesters who entered the Capitol in April 2020.
Open and concealed carry of firearms is forbidden inside the building for everyone but Capitol security and other on-duty law enforcement personnel. Lawmakers are also allowed to carry concealed pistols.
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Haslett’s Olivia Stoll is the only first-timer in the Michigan Women’s Amateur final four, which will wrap up on Friday at the Eagle Eye Golf Club in East Lansing.
Stoll, who has graduated from Grand Valley and is working for her father at three family-owned courses, beat Jessica Jolly of Rockford and the University of Nebraska, 4 and 3, in the round of 16, and then held off Bridget Boczar of Canton and Baylor University, 2 and 1.
“I hit the ball a lot better today and I’m starting to get a little more confidence with the driver,” Stoll said.
“I’ve made it to the eight a good amount, but this is one step farther and I have a chance on the last day. It’s going to come down to whoever makes the most putts.”
Elise Fennell of Caledonia and Illinois State University, Macie Elzinga of Byron Center and Bowling Green State University and Elayna Bowser, a real-estate agent from Dearborn, are the other finalists.
Stoll will play Bowser Friday at 8 a.m., and Fennell will face Elzinga at 8:15. The winners will square off in the afternoon for the title in the 109th edition of the state championship.
WEXFORD COUNTY, MI – Police are investigating a fire that occurred overnight in a fireworks tent in Northern Michigan.
Michigan State Police in Cadillac responded to a parking lot off Mitchell Street in Haring Township at 4:12 a.m. on July 5. Upon arrival, troopers observed the tent on fire, with fireworks actively going off.
WDIV-TV in Detroit published a video showing the incident in Wexford County.
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