Lansing, MI - Michigan communities will soon benefit from the addition of 61 state troopers who graduated Wednesday, November 22, 2023 from the 144th Trooper Recruit School.
During the ceremony in East Lansing, in which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was the keynote speaker, Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP), administered the Oath of Office to the individuals who begin their assignments at MSP posts across the state next week.
“As governor and a former prosecutor, it’s an honor to speak with every graduating class of new Michigan State Police troopers,” said Governor Whitmer. “I am proud of the 61 Michiganders in this class who represent the rich diversity of our state. They will help make Michigan a better, safer place we can all be proud to call home, where everyone feels safe on the road, in their neighborhood, and at school.”
The 144th Trooper Recruit School began on Sunday, July 9, with 85 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.
Tpr. Jackson Winters was elected Class Orator by his fellow recruits and spoke on behalf of the graduating class at their ceremony. Recognized during the ceremony was Tpr. Faheem Abdullah who received the Outstanding Performance Award, Tpr. Robert Porter who received the Team Building Award, Tpr. Brenden Spencer who received the Physical Fitness Award, Tpr. Aaron Bellgowan who received the Academic Achievement Award, and Tpr. Gary Hansen who received the Marksmanship Award.
“We are excited to welcome and congratulate our newest troopers who are beginning their careers at a crucial time as we continue to re-engage and re-focus on our relationships with those who we serve,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “Each of us are valuable and contributing members of this department, tasked with meeting the challenges and opportunities of modern policing, which include continually seeking new ways of doing things. I’m confident the work they will do day-in and day-out will help to raise the standards of policing.”
Including the 61 graduates of the 144th Trooper Recruit School, there are approximately 1,170 troopers assigned statewide, and a total of 1,870 enlisted members in the MSP.
The MSP is actively recruiting for future trooper recruit schools, including the 145th Trooper Recruit School, slated to begin Jan. 21, 2024, and the 146th Lateral Entry Trooper Recruit School for licensed police officers, slated to begin May12, 2024. Persons interested in learning more should visit www.michigan.gov/MSPjobs or information on how to apply.