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March 24--Michigan State Police will close 21 posts around the state but will not lay off troopers, the agency's director, Col. Kriste Kibbe Etue, said in a statement Thursday.
The posts to be closed include Detroit, Ypsilanti, Battle Creek and Traverse City.
Etue said MSP was adopting a regional policing model that relies less on traditional brick-and-mortar buildings. The number of posts will shrink from 62 to 29.
Twelve will become detachments, where troopers can begin and end their shifts, do paperwork, and meet with the public by appointment.
"The MSP is confident that service levels will either be unchanged or enhanced given the increased flexibility in deployment and scheduling provided by this regional policing plan," Etue said.
She said troopers will be deployed from posts, detachments and their homes. She said the agency will use technologies that allow troopers to do administrative work from their vehicles.
Patrol cars will be able to electronically process ticket and crash traffic data, and link information from roadside to the courts.
The plan allows MSP to be "more responsive to emerging crime trends and less constrained by traditional geographic boundaries," Etue said
It's not clear how much the closings will save the agency, which faces a $20.7-million budget cut next fiscal year.
A spokeswoman for Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. said late Thursday he was expecting a call from Etue to discuss the plans.
These posts will close: Ithaca, Corunna, Adrian, Richmond, Ypsilanti, Groveland, Detroit, Bad Axe, Bridgeport, Gladwin, Bridgman, Battle Creek, Hastings, Newaygo, Traverse City, Cheboygan, Manistee, L'Anse, Stephenson, Munising and Iron River.
These posts will be downgraded to detachments: Jonesville, Metro South (Taylor), East Tawas, Sandusky, White Pigeon, Grand Haven, Reed City, Ionia, Petoskey, Kalkaska, Newberry and Manistique.
