Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday provided the keynote address at the graduation of the Michigan State Police’s 140th Trooper Recruit School. During the ceremony, Colonel Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP), administered the Oath of Office to 50 individuals who begin their assignments at MSP posts across the state next week.
“I’m so proud of the 50 graduates who join the ranks of the Michigan State Police today,” said Governor Whitmer. “Public service is a noble calling that comes with great responsibility. Every family in every community wants peace of mind that they can go to work, drop their kids off at school and run errands safely. As a former prosecutor, public safety is a core issue for me, and I will keep working with the MSP to reduce crime and keep families safe.”
The 140th Trooper Recruit School began on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, with 74 prospective troopers, at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing. Recruits received training in patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias, decision making, leadership, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing, firearms, water safety, defensive tactics and precision driving.
“Today is an exciting day for the Michigan State Police and our 50 new troopers,” said Colonel Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police. “We are looking to them to continue our tradition of delivering the best in public safety and community services. Some days will be difficult, but the work you will do will be fulfilling and rewarding.”
Trooper Blaine Borman of Gladstone was elected Class Orator by his fellow recruits and spoke on behalf of the graduating class at their ceremony.by his fellow recruits and spoke on behalf of the graduating class at their ceremony. Also recognized during the ceremony was Trooper Justin Sawyer who received the Team Building and Academic Achievement awards, Trooper Jacob Jurden who received the Outstanding Performance Award and Trooper Tanner Nickel who received the Marksmanship Award.
Including the 50 graduates of the 140th Trooper Recruit School, there are approximately 1,200 troopers assigned statewide, and a total of 1,900 enlisted members in the MSP.
Last week, Governor Whitmer presented her fiscal year 2023 budget, which continues the administration’s investments in law enforcement. Governor Whitmer’s budget would add another 50 new troopers on top of the 120 extra troopers that we anticipate hiring and training. The governor also proposed $30 million to award retention bonuses to local police officers, state troopers, conservation officers, corrections officers, firefighters, EMTs.
The next recruit school, the 141st Trooper Recruit School, which is the department’s first recruit school for licensed police officers, is anticipated to begin on March 6, 2022, at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing. They are expected to graduate on May 27, 2022.
The MSP is actively recruiting for future trooper recruit schools, including 142nd Trooper Recruit School. Persons interested in learning more should visit www.michigan.gov/MSPjobs for information on how to apply.
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