LANSING — Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP), Oct. 3 announced that the department will begin operating under a new regionalized post structure this month.
This new structure is part of the department’s regional policing plan, first announced in March.
Statewide, the MSP is reducing the number of posts from 62 to 29.
The regional policing plan, which helps the department achieve its $17.7 million general fund reduction for fiscal year 2012, allows the department to continue its mission and achieve necessary cost savings without laying off a single trooper.
“The Michigan State Police is committed to providing public safety statewide and troopers will remain in all 83 counties,” said Etue.
“The regional policing plan provides increased trooper visibility while relying less upon traditional bricks and mortar post buildings, making the department more mobile and flexible for responding to emerging community public safety needs.”
The following regional posts will remain fully operational and open to the public, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.:

Alpena
Bay City
Brighton
Caro
Cadillac
Calumet
Coldwater
Flint
Gaylord
Gladstone
Hart
Houghton Lake
Iron Mountain
Jackson
Lakeview
Lansing
Lapeer
Metro (Oak Park)
Monroe
Mt. Pleasant
Negaunee
Niles
Paw Paw
Rockford
Sault Ste. Marie
St. Ignace
Wakefield
Wayland
West Branch

These regional posts were selected for their strategic location in the region, long-term structural viability and ability to accept new technology.
Beginning on Oct. 16, 19 former MSP posts will convert to detachments, which are facilities where troopers can start and end their shifts, store property/evidence and meet with the public by appointment.
Detachments will not maintain public lobby hours. These locations include:

Bad Axe
Cheboygan (Cheboygan became a detachment on Oct. 2, 2011)
East Tawas
Grand Haven
Groveland
Hastings
Ionia
Jonesville
Kalkaska
Mansitique
Metro South
Newberry
Newyago
sPetoskey
Reed City
Sandusky
Traverse City
White Pigeon
Ypsilanti

The following posts are slated to close permanently, although dates for vacating each facility will vary, none of these locations will maintain public lobby hours after Oct. 14:

Adrian
Battle Creek
Bridgeport
Bridgman (Bridgman will close its lobby on Oct. 8)
Corunna
Detroit
Gladwin
Iron River
Ithaca
L’Anse
Manistee
Munising (Munising closed its lobby on Sept. 18)
Richmond
Stephenson (Stephenson closed its lobby on Sept. 181)
For additional information on the MSP Regional Policing Plan, click on the Regional Policing Plan link on the left side of the MSP Web page at
www.michigan.gov/msp.
To contact the MSP 24 hours a day, call 1-800-525-5555.