State Representative Mike Mueller today offered the following statement regarding the Michigan State Police:

“The Michigan State Police (MSP), long regarded as one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the country, is in crisis. Not because of crime or public policy, but because its own leadership has lost the confidence of the people who matter most: the men and women who wear the uniform.

“Recently, troopers issued an overwhelming vote of no confidence in Colonel James Grady and Lieutenant Colonel Aimee Brimacombe. Of those surveyed, 75% of the department’s nearly 1,200 enlisted members participated, resulting in an overwhelming 98% saying they have no faith in the current leadership. That’s not a few disgruntled voices. That’s a near-unanimous rejection.

“And yet, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has remained supportive of Grady. Despite the fact that this is the most significant leadership crisis in MSP’s recent history, the governor continues to stand by her appointees. Why?

“Is it because she refuses to admit she made the wrong choice? Is political image now more important than the integrity and effectiveness of Michigan’s top law enforcement agency?

“Colonel Grady and Lt. Colonel Brimacombe’s administration has been marked by deteriorating morale, a lack of trust, and questionable personnel decisions. The recent promotion of a captain who had never served a single day in the division he now leads, selected over a career officer who had been acting in that very role, is just the latest example. That newly appointed captain is now under investigation for misuse of a state vehicle. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Brimacombe herself has reportedly faced multiple internal affairs investigations and disciplinary action.

“This isn’t about race, as some might suggest. The MSP has had a proud history of diverse leadership, including two African American men, one Hispanic man, and one white woman—all of whom led the agency without ever triggering a vote of no confidence or seeing morale plummet. The department currently includes 92 African American enlisted members, yet only 18 total officers, across all demographics, expressed confidence in Grady and Brimacombe. The numbers speak for themselves.

“This isn’t about identity. It’s about leadership, or rather, the absence of it.

“MSP members, both enlisted and civilian, were hopeful that their voices would be heard. They were encouraged to participate honestly in the employee engagement survey and the Internal Control Evaluation. They came forward in good faith, believing that concerns about internal dysfunction would be taken seriously.

“Instead, they’ve been ignored.

“Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on employee feedback efforts. What is the point of these investments if honest answers are dismissed the moment they become inconvenient? The Governor’s inaction sends a clear and troubling message: the rank-and-file don’t matter. Their trust, their morale, and their safety are all are being sacrificed for political optics.

“Even the public is beginning to take notice. A recent article in The Midwesterner questioned whether MSP, amid this chaos, is fully capable of protecting Michigan residents in times of crisis. When public confidence falters, the consequences extend far beyond internal politics; they ripple through every community that relies on the agency’s protection.

“How many more have to speak out before the governor does the right thing? How many more stories must surface? How many more officers must say ‘enough’ before someone listens?

The men and women of the Michigan State Police have spoken. Loudly. Clearly. They deserve leadership they can believe in and a governor who listens.”

State Representative Mike Mueller represents the 72^nd House District and chairs the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Michigan State Police. He is a career law enforcement officer and U.S. Navy veteran who has served in the Michigan House since 2019.

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