Michigan State Police select community service trooper for Mount Pleasant
Trooper Michael White does not see his new job at the Mount Pleasant post as just a matter of enforcing the law, but also educating people about it.
White is one of 21 troopers with the Michigan State Police assigned this month to new community service roles in districts across the state. He was slected for the position in December.
“I’m excited about this position,” White said. “I’m a people person and I’ve always been a believer in getting involved with the public.”
White has experience with the Central Michigan University community and has been a state trooper for almost 20 years.
Former football coach Butch Jones wanted to have a police officer mentor the team after the DeMarcus Graham beating-death trial several years ago.
“Coach Jones wanted to establish a more positive image of the football program,” White said. “I came in to build strong relationships and kind of became part of the team.”
MSP Sgt. Josh Lator said White took on a huge mentoring role with the football team.
“He’s a great guy,” Lator said. “He talked to the team about making wise choices as they represent team and community. He’s traveled with the team and been on the field with them.”
White will serve citizens of Mount Pleasant by mentoring youth, working with senior citizens and emphasizing community service and training.
Community service troopers focus on community outreach to help strengthen cities across the state. The troopers will also work with surrounding police agencies to strengthen law enforcement.
Lator said the CST position was created through a federal grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The grant funded the presence of three CSTs in each district.
“We’re taking experienced troopers and sending them out to the community,” Lator said.
The CSTs will put together problem-solving teams by looking at issues each community struggles with and assessing the most effective way to tackle them.
“It’s a very rewarding spot,” he said. “The focus is open communication with both the community and the (CSTs).”
The troopers will attend community meetings to share information on crime prevention and evaluate community policing initiatives for their impact on communities.
White and other community service troopers will educate citizens on bullying, "sexting" and other emerging trends and provide a "teaching, educating and mentoring" curriculum in schools.
He will also work with citizens, businesses, nonprofits and other law-enforcement agencies to develop and implement solutions to localized issues.
“All CSTs have had presentation skills training,” Lator said. “They’re trained not to just give information, but to give it in an energetic way.”
White said he hopes to address the issue of underage drinking. He said he aims to do this by keeping an open dialogue with people about drinking, drinking and driving and alcohol poisoning.
He said people from Mount Pleasant have shown a positive reaction to working with him.
“It’s amazing how, when you approach something with enthusiasm and excitement," White said, "it’s contagious"
