Lansing- After voting on Sept. 27 to close state police posts in Grand Haven, Groveland Township and Iron River the state police responded Tuesday morning with a re-deployment plan prior to the Nov. 28 closing date.
Senators and representatives from the areas impacted by the post closings met with Michigan State Police Lt. Col. Peter C. Munoz deputy director of the field services bureau and Lt. Col. Thomas J. Miller director of administrative services bureau.
‘The troopers from the Groveland post are likely to be transferred to the Metro North Post in Oak Park,? said Miller.
The Michigan State Police divides the state into districts. In District 2, where the Groveland office is located, the closest post is 42 miles away in Oak Park. The Flint post, located 17 miles north of Groveland Township in Genesee County, doesn’t normally respond to incidents in District 2 due to the legal jurisdictions.
The current Groveland team includes 14 troopers, one detective sergeant, one post commander, one sergeant in addition to some office staff.
‘However right now we are considering other detachments in the area but it’s unspecified where or how many satellites offices in the area,? said Miller.
No time line was disclosed, however, officials from the Michigan State Police did offer some details of the new arraigment.
‘There may be fewer troopers than in the current Groveland team,? said Shanon Akans, Michigan State Police public affairs manager.
‘But to assure response time to calls from within the area there will be a trooper presence. The actual number of troopers assigned to patrol the area has not been determined, she said. However, due to the distiance they must drive from Oak Park the service would be impacted. Office space will also be an issue.?
Two options are considered, a state police satellite office, available to any trooper assigned to the post area, however the office may not be manned. Another option is a state police detachement, estabished to enhance existing police services in a rual community. Troopers may be assigned and may patrol the area on a more regular basis.
‘It’s a cost saving measue by eliminating some of the positions,? said Akans. ‘This means one less post commander, one less sergeant and one less jantor.?
Rep. Jim Marleau, (R-Lake Orion) who attended the Tuesday meeting had a mixed reaction to the state police response.
‘The plan is all well and good, but it is clear the I-75 corridor will not receive adequate service if the Groveland Post closes for reasons of questionable economy,? Marleau said. ‘I have and will continue to encourage the Senate to take up the supplemental that I co-sponsored to save our post. Time is running out. If the Senate doesn’t take action in the next five session days, the post will close.?
After voting to close the Michigan State Police office and services from the Groveland will end following the breakdown of a legislative conference committee agreement regarding the state budget on Wednesday. After nearly a year of banter the Senate voted 21-17 to concur with a committee report that specifically calls for the State Police office near Dixie Highway and Grange Hall Road to be closed on Nov.28.
The Michigan State Police opened in the Groveland Township location in 1996 and patrol in Groveland, Holly, and Rose townships. The affected townships will now have to devise a plan for police protection for the nearly 15,000 residents who live within each of the 36 mile square townships. While public safety departments, contracts with the Oakland County Sheriff’s office and other plans have been discussed it’s just a wait and see attitude say township officials.
Facing state budget shortfalls of $770 million, Gov. Jennifer Granholm recommended earlier this year the State Police post in Groveland Township, along with state police posts in Grand Haven, and Iron River close. The proposed closures would save the state an estimated $1.1 million, say officials from the governor’s office, with an estimated $300,000 from the Groveland office.
Since the announcement Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma, along with officials from Holly and Rose townships, have appealed to legislators and the governor’s office. Several officials have testified before the budget committee in support of keeping the state police team in the township.
On June 10 officials from Rep. Marleau’s office announced that following the passage of a proposed $39.7 billion budget from the House no state police teams or posts will close. Rep. Marleau along with Rep. David Farhat (R-Muskegon) co-sponsored an amendment which would prevent the Groveland Post from closing in the House proposed budget.