The Michigan State Police trooper performs a full range of law enforcement assignments and is a certified police officer by the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES).
A trooper typically works out of a State Police post and patrols the roads of an assigned geographical area to prevent or detect traffic law violations, conducts investigations of law violations, and provides a variety of related services to the public. They may also be assigned to the central or district office or work in a particular branch of law enforcement, such as vehicle safety inspection, dog handling, underwater search and recovery, or forensic science.
Typically, work is performed under the direction of a sergeant or lieutenant. A trooper must routinely exercise extensive independent judgment in making decisions that may include taking immediate actions with limited opportunity to consider various alternatives.
