Capitol News

State Representatives Mike Mueller and Mike Harris announced efforts to identify and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse in Michigan’s state budget. Their aim is to redirect those funds to improve public safety through a new Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund.

Mueller, who leads the Michigan State Police (MSP) budget subcommittee, criticized the current leadership of the MSP. He stated that millions of taxpayer dollars may have been wasted or mismanaged under this leadership.

Ending mismanagement and reducing waste in other areas of the state budget could make more money available for local police agencies through the proposed trust fund. “When you dig into the budget, it’s clear that many state departments have been sitting on money for phantom positions that they never fill, and spending it on things that don’t improve our state the way that the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund would,” said Mueller, R-Linden. “My colleagues and I are working on cleaning out that waste, so we can fix our roads and send more resources to the men and women in local law enforcement who are on the front lines protecting our neighborhoods every single day.”

The proposed Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund would be created by bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Harris, R-Waterford. The fund would provide $115 million each year to support local law enforcement agencies and violence prevention programs across Michigan.

Harris explained that shifting resources into this trust fund would increase accountability and ensure support goes where it is most needed. “As someone who has worn the badge, I know how important it is for officers to have the resources and backup they need to do the job safely and effectively,” Harris said. “This trust fund means taxpayer dollars will go straight to trusted local police and sheriff’s departments who have the confidence of their communities.”

Recently, troopers from MSP voted no confidence in Colonel James Grady and Lieutenant Colonel Aimee Brimacombe. Despite this vote, Governor Whitmer has continued her support for these appointees. Mueller commented that a lack of accountability at higher levels has affected morale within MSP, making it harder for troopers to perform their duties.