State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt is calling for the resignation of Michigan State Police Director Colonel James Grady after the department confirmed Thursday that Deputy Director Lieutenant Colonel Aimee Brimacombe is retiring.
Nesbitt tells us there have long been problems with Grady’s leadership, and the rank-and-file state police troopers know it.
“I mean, just last year in the summer, 98% of the Michigan State Police frontline troopers voted that they had no confidence in the state police colonel and the deputy colonel’s direction of MSP,” Nesbitt said. “These are the frontline law enforcement officials that have zero confidence in the state police leadership.”
In October, Nesbitt led a group of Senate Republicans urging Governor Gretchen Whitmer to request the immediate resignation of Grady and Brimacombe or to relieve them of their duties. He says he knew Grady would be a problem ever since meeting him years ago.
“Michigan State Police have been marred by turmoil fueled by questionable promotions, waive of departures that have included lawsuits brought by retired Michigan State Police inspectors and the Chief Diversity Officer alleging gross patterns of workplace harassment.”
Nesbitt added the situation with state police leadership is harming the agency’s morale and recruitment efforts.
“Michigan State Police has a very long history, storied history, of being the premier state law enforcement agency in the nation. And unfortunately, under Grady and Brimacombe, their leadership has been a disaster.”
Nesbitt says Grady talked about DEI, rather than law enforcement when they spoke. He also said Brimacombe’s retirement is “welcome news,” telling us she should have stepped away a long time ago.
Nesbitt said added it’s “appalling” the governor hasn’t removed both state police leaders.
