House Oversight Committee Chair Jay DeBoyer today blasted Michigan State Police leadership for continued scandals plaguing the department.

Two recent reports – one disclosing MSP had to pay nearly $70 million in judgments and civil case settlements, and another outlining a new lawsuit from two MSP sergeants alleging a rigged promotions system – have joined a growing list of widely publicized allegations against MSP leadership.

“Unfortunately, the bad headlines keep coming for MSP as officers are out in our communities every day serving with integrity, helping fight crime and keeping people safe,” said DeBoyer, of Clay Township. “There’s a common denominator with these continued bad headlines – the same leadership is in place.”

DeBoyer and the House Oversight Committee have held hearings and looked into repeated instances of wrongdoing involving MSP leadership. The investigation started following allegations of serial misconduct within MSP’s highest ranks, including by MSP Director Colonel James Grady and Lieutenant Colonel Aimee Brimacombe. The allegations of their misconduct included favoritism in staff promotions, giving themselves inappropriate salary bonuses, and instituting overly restrictive policies preventing troopers from doing their jobs.

Both Grady and Brimacombe received a vote of “no confidence” from 98.5% of MSP troopers and 90% of command officers in a poll conducted by the Michigan State Police Troopers Association (MSPTA) in June.

The MSPTA and the Michigan State Police Command Officers Association have called on Col. Grady and Lt. Col. Brimacombe to resign. Senate Republicans have also called on the governor to dismiss both from their positions.

“This isn’t, and shouldn’t be, a political issue. This is an effectiveness issue,” DeBoyer said. “When we see the sheer magnitude of poor judgment and ineffectiveness that we have seen – where it is costing the state and taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and leading to overwhelming sentiment from people within that organization regarding the failed leadership they are seeing, the decision should be an obvious one.

“Failed leaders who draw taxpayer-funded salaries should not remain within their positions. We should all be able to agree on that, and we owe it to taxpayers to stop feeding that ineffectiveness.”