LANSING, Mich – In a comprehensive 18-month evaluation conducted by independent consulting firm CNA, the Michigan State Police (MSP) has been found not to engage in widespread discriminatory policing practices regarding racial disparities in traffic stops. The assessment, commissioned by the MSP as part of its five-point plan to address such disparities, utilized document reviews, targeted interviews, focus groups, ride-a-longs, and quantitative data analysis.
Click here to get updates from Dave Bondy by signing up to his completely free newsletter.
CNA’s report, which includes 54 findings and associated recommendations, focused on various aspects of the department’s operations, including recruitment, hiring, instruction, training, supervision of troopers, and organizational factors relevant to traffic enforcement and equitable policing. Despite previous research identifying racial and ethnic disparities in MSP traffic stops, the report concludes that the reasons for such disparities remain unknown.
Click here to read the Michigan State Police response to the report.
Colonel James F. Grady II, director of the MSP, emphasized the agency’s commitment to fair and equitable policing. He stated, “Discriminatory behavior is not an acceptable practice within this agency, and anyone engaging in it will be addressed through training, discipline, or termination, dependent on the circumstances of the incident.”
The report highlights both positive aspects of MSP’s policies and programs that should be maintained and built upon, as well as areas that require greater attention and improvement. As the MSP reaffirms its dedication to the highest standards of anti-discrimination education and training, the findings contribute to ongoing efforts to ensure fair and unbiased traffic enforcement in Michigan.
