LANSING, Mich. – Michigan communities will soon benefit from the addition of 52 state troopers who graduated Thursday afternoon from the 147th Trooper Recruit School.
During the ceremony in Lansing, Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police (MSP), administered the Oath of Office to the graduates who begin their assignments at MSP posts across the state next week. Five will be sent to Upper Peninsula MSP posts:
- Trooper Noah Misiak from Sault Ste. Marie is being assigned to the Sault Ste. Marie Post
- Trooper Jenna Laway from Cheboygan is being assigned to the St. Ignace Post
- Trooper Colin Barnhart from Escanaba is being assigned to the Gladstone Post
- Trooper Justine Havelka from Wallce and Trooper Mindy McKinnon from Crystal Falls are being assigned to the Iron Mountain Post
“Congratulations to the graduates of the 147th Trooper Recruit School!” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “As governor, know that I will have your back and collaborate with anyone to ensure you have the resources and support you need to keep our communities safe. Since I took office, we have invested more than $1.6 billion into public safety and bolstered the ranks of the MSP, which remains one of the nation’s premier law enforcement agencies. Let’s keep working together to reduce violence, save lives, and build a brighter future for Michigan.”
The 147th Trooper Recruit School began on Sunday, July 7 at the MSP Training Academy in Lansing. Recruits received training in patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, cultural diversity and implicit bias, decision making, leadership, first aid, criminal law, crime scene processing, firearms, water safety, defensive tactics and precision driving.
Tpr. Huy-Linh Dang was elected class orator by his fellow recruits and spoke on behalf of the graduating class at their ceremony. Recognized prior to the ceremony was Tpr. Kevin Bowersox who received the Outstanding Performance Award, Tpr. Logan Miller who received the Team Building Award, Tpr. Jacob Onderlinde who received the Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement awards, Tpr. Russel Buffa who received the Marksmanship Award and Tpr. Cameron Jousma who received the inaugural Sgt. Matt Rogers Driving Excellence Award.
“This job is not easy, but it is worthwhile and more rewarding than you could ever imagine,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “I welcome and congratulate Michigan’s newest troopers. The badge they earned is a result of determination, resilience and hard work which will continue in their communities.”
Including the 52 graduates of the 147th Trooper Recruit School, there are approximately 1,170 troopers assigned statewide, and a total of 1,860 enlisted members in the MSP.
The MSP is actively recruiting for future trooper recruit schools, including the 149th Trooper Recruit School slated to begin July of 2025. Persons interested in learning more should visit www.michigan.gov/MSPjobs or information on how to apply.
