LANSING, Mich. --
The Michigan State Police plan to close 21 posts across the state, without trooper layoffs, as part of a plan to save nearly $21 million.
The MSP is going from 62 anchor posts to 29 under the plan announced Thursday. The initiative was unveiled in a meeting with post commanders in Lansing.
It states there will be several satellite posts around the state, though officials are not yet sure where those will be and how many there will be.
The MSP said its reasons for the consolidation are its attempts to eliminate the costs to repair posts and the lease payments.
The changes would take effect with the start of Michigan's next budget year in October.
The new plan would allow the trooper in his or her car to make it a mobile office, so they don't have to go back to the post to do reports. Officials may even end up allowing troopers to take their cars home. That, in turn, could end up reducing response times, they said.
Although posts may close, officials said they are not abandoning any part of the state. Officials said they’ll be putting sergeants back out on road, so supervision are out with troopers, which could actually mean increase of personnel on the roads.
Posts slated for closure in Mid-Michigan consist of the Corunna, Ithaca, Bad Axe, Bridgeport and Gladwin posts.
Right now, the plan is being unveiled to the state House and Senate appropriations committees. It's already been approved by the governor's office.
Further reading about the initiative can be done on the MSP's website.
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