State Police are outdated. In 1967, when I started as a cop, the State Police was just about the only Department (except Detroit) that had tracking dogs (K-9 Corps), SWAT Teams, Bomb Squads (we used Selfridge Military Bomb experts for long time), Crime Labs, etc. Even then it took them a long time to get anywhere. Today most Counties and many Cities and Townships have their own K-9's, Bomb Squads, Crime Labs, SWAT Team, etc. Look at Virginia Tech, it was over in minutes, minutes that it would have taken to call State Police Headquarters or their District Office, to activate any of their specialized Teams. But, look at the population and car traffic today, compared to 1967. They come from all over the State and it takes wayyyyyyyyyyy too long. Look at our southern States. County-wide Police Agencies (not necessarily the Sheriff, he can be only in charge of the jail if we so desire) are the norm. The State Police presense is often in the form of a Highway Patrol only, or a State Agency like the FBI (but much smaller in Michigan, so we can afford it). Take the GBI, TBI (Georgia and Tennessee), take Florida with their Highway Patrol and the FDLE (Florida Dept of Law Enforcement). How about the Maryland Police Chief in Montgomery County involved in the Wash DC area sniper case?
We can use a State Crime Lab, maybe with a few satelite sites, especially up north where resources are not as plentiful. Maybe a small cadre of Detectives, to spread out when a major crime occurs and a Crime Task Force needs to be formed. Take the Texas Rangers, many are former Houston Cops, not State Cops. They are highly over-rated. But, given the millions you give them they should be good. That's not counting the Federal dollars they take off the top before filtering the rest down to the locals. Gives them the fancy toys they show off.
They wreck more patrol cars. Not mine, they say. Just go to Lansing and get another one tomorrow!
SW Michigan has a multitude of Bomb Squads, K-9 Corps, SWAT Teams, etc., and Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County do to.
The State Police have seen their day, let them go and send the money to the Counties and locals, at a much lower cost.
Oh, they're top notch you say? I can count so many since 1967 who were turned down by my Deptmt 3 times and then got accepted by the State Police.
If the Governor was serious she would cut their force. Start with her security detail. They're hired thugs like the Detroit Mayor's Detroit PD Detail and fancy SUV's. Let's get real with OUR money Jennifer.