Local Officals React To State Police Closures
DETROIT (WWJ) - As 21 Michigan State Police posts are slated to close, including the post in Detroit, Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee said he needs to learn more about it.
"Suffice it to say, I'm going to reserve judgment until the colonel and I get an opportunity to sit down and talk about what the service delivery model is for the Detroit area relative to troopers," Godbee said.
Meanwhile, they're taking the same kind of approach in Macomb County. Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham hopes there won't be any impact, even though they have a state police post in Richmond.
"What I'm told is that the building itself is going to be closed and that we're not going to see any reduction in the amount of troopers that are out there answering calls for service. So, until we see how this all plays out, we're going to be optimistic," Wickersham said.
Macomb County relies on State Troopers to handle sections of I-94 and M-53, as well as assisting non-contracted townships in the northern part of Macomb County respond to calls for service.
The closures would save Michigan $21-million, but the move would come without any trooper layoffs and troopers would be deployed throughout the state mostly from remaining posts and other buildings.
