Fleet operators and commercial truck drivers will face increased scrutiny beginning next week thanks to eight new Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Officers who graduated this afternoon in East Lansing. Two of those new officers will report for duty in Southwest Michigan following their graduation from the 22nd Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center.
Motor carrier officers are armed uniformed members of the Michigan State Police who specialize in commercial vehicle enforcement. They enforce traffic safety laws on commercial vehicles, protect the infrastructure through aggressive size and weight enforcement along interstate highways and other traveled routes, conduct commercial vehicle and driver inspections and contribute to homeland security efforts by enforcing hazardous material regulations.
Governor Rick Snyder says, “These highly-trained officers are critical to public safety and Michigan’s economy.” He adds, “Protecting our highway infrastructure and everyone who travels it is a very important job. I commend our new officers for their commitment to our great state and its residents.”
MC Ofcr. Michelle Cini, who was elected Class Orator by her fellow recruits, spoke on behalf of the graduating class. She has been assigned to Michigan’s Great Southwest at the Paw Paw Post. The Team Building Award went to MC Ofcr. Mahir Hadzic and MC Ofcr. Erik O’Shea. MC Ofcr. Brett Nagus II received the Academic Achievement and Outstanding Performance awards, and the Marksmanship Award went to MC Ofcr. Daniel Dischler who will also serve our region through his assignment to the Niles State Police Post.
In her address to the recruits, Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP said, “As a motor carrier officer, your mission is an important one – to ensure the legitimate and safe travel of the nation’s commercial vehicles through Michigan. I ask that you take the rights and responsibilities granted to you as motor carrier officers seriously and that you strive each day to be the best officer you can be.”
The 22nd Motor Carrier Officer Recruit School began on August 13, 2017, when 14 prospective officers reported to the Michigan State Police Training Academy in Lansing. For the past 19 weeks, recruits received training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics, patrol techniques, report writing, ethics, first aid, criminal law, precision driving, commercial vehicle law and commercial vehicle inspection procedures.
In order to be selected to attend the academy, applicants had to pass a stringent selection process that included a physical fitness test, background investigation and hiring interview.
Of the eight new motor carrier officers, four have continued their education with some college studies and two have prior military experience.
To learn more about a career with the Michigan State Police, interested candidates can click the link below for how to proceed:
