Capitol News

State Rep. Mike Mueller, chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, has responded to comments from Col. James F. Grady II regarding the proposed House budget for the Michigan State Police (MSP).

Mueller addressed concerns about potential impacts on trooper staffing and funding under the new plan. “This budget would not have any impact on troopers unless MSP leadership makes that decision. No troopers would be taken off the road with our plan and it fully funds their positions. As a retired sheriff’s deputy, I want to see troopers out keeping our roads and the public safe. The reductions address hundreds of phantom full-time employee positions that have gone unfilled but still receive funding and target wasteful spending. The colonel went $40,000 over budget on a conference and spent $400,000 on a public relations firm to help cover for leadership failures. Public relations is not public safety. MSP needs to start there – not with post operations,” Mueller said.

He also described how the proposed budget allocates resources: “Our budget plan focuses on supporting post operations and giving troopers the resources that they need to help protect the public. It also ensures promises made are promises kept by dedicating over $46 million so troopers get pay raises that were recently negotiated by the trooper’s union.”

Mueller stated his commitment to ongoing dialogue with MSP leadership: “I will continue communications with MSP to fight for our troopers and sergeants as they do their jobs, evaluate costs, and identify wasteful spending to respect taxpayers. It’s time for the colonel to put animosity aside, be a colonel, and come to the table for the sake of the entire MSP family.”