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New Policy: Michigan State Police To Restrict Vehicle Pursuits

Author Kayla Morgan

Unfortunately, police officers often find themselves involved in vehicle pursuits. Last year, a 10-year-old attempting to drive an SUV was involved in a chase on I-75 through Saginaw County. Earlier this year, a police pursuit in Southfield ended with the driver crashing into a Detroit business. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in either incident.

Michigan State Police (MSP) has recently implemented a new policy aimed at reducing the number of pursuits initiated by troopers. The objective is to safeguard innocent bystanders from potentially life-threatening situations that can arise during police chases. According to state police, officers on patrol will now only initiate a pursuit if they suspect the occupant of the suspect vehicle has committed a violent or life-threatening felony.

The new policy will take place immediately, Colonel James F. Grady announced. The policy change comes after a 2023 report into best practices for vehicular pursuits. It follows recommendations outlined in a 2023 report on best practices for vehicular pursuits. He emphasized the dangers associated with high-speed pursuits and highlighted that the seriousness of the crime will be a primary consideration in any decision to pursue a suspect.

“In all decisions, protecting lives – that of innocent bystanders, police officers, and fleeing suspects – is of paramount importance, and it is for this reason we have revised our policy,” said Grady.

Michigan State Police Data

According to Michigan State Police data, there were 235 pursuits involving MSP members in 2022, a number that increased by one to 236 pursuits last year. As of this year, MSP members have been involved in 33 pursuits.

National data referenced by MSP indicates that crashes occur in at least 30 percent of vehicle pursuits, with injuries or fatalities occurring in 5 to 17 percent of pursuits.

The revised policy aligns with recommendations from the Police Executive Research Forum in its 2023 report, “Vehicular Pursuits: A Guide for Law Enforcement Executives on Managing the Associated Risks.”

The policy, along with all other non-confidential department Official Orders, can be found online on MSP’s Transparency and Accountability here

Living Large: Michigan's Wealthiest Counties

Wealthy areas are the kind of places where you’ll find beautiful homes, well-manicured streets, and a sense of luxury in the air. Along with the stunning residences, these areas offer top-notch services like private schools, exclusive clubs, and upscale shopping centers. Safety is a priority too, with gated communities, private security, and advanced security systems ensuring peace of mind. Of course, you can’t forget about wealthy areas flooded with well-kept parks, golf courses, and country clubs. But what is the wealthiest county in Michigan?

A recent study by SmartAsset shows the wealthiest counties in the U.S. To figure out which counties are rolling in the dough, they looked at investment income, property value, and how much cash each person is raking in on average.

“We started the analysis by calculating the Investment Index for each county by evenly weighing the Ordinary Dividends, Qualified Dividends, and Net Capital Gains. From there, we calculated the Median Home Value and the Per Capita Income for each county, and ranked them on all three metrics,” SmartAsset wrote.

The study revealed that Leelanau County, nestled near Traverse City and known for its wineries along the Lake Michigan coast, takes the crown as Michigan’s wealthiest county. With its picturesque Leelanau Peninsula and a population of approximately 23,000, this small northern Michigan county has the highest per-capita wealth in the state. Nationally, Leelanau County had an overall rank of 266.

Wealthiest Counties in The U.S.

When it comes to the richest counties in the nation, California counties consistently find themselves at the top of the ranking. San Mateo County, San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, and Marin County all secured spots in the top five richest counties in the United States. However, breaking California’s streak, Nantucket County in Massachusetts claimed the fifth spot on the ranking.

Check out the full study here. And take a look below to see which counties in Michigan are the wealthiest.

  • 5. Grand Traverse County

    Traverse City Michigan aerial view

    Gary Ennis/ Getty Images

    Median Income: $69, 393
    Investment Income: $47, 522
    Median Home Value: $373, 836
    National Rank: 497

     

  • 4. Oakland County

    Median Income: $86, 275
    Investment Income: $48, 897
    Median Home Value: $334, 448
    National Rank: 310

    Oakland County road sign

    Thomas Pajot/ Getty Images

  • 3. Livingston County

    Median Income: $88, 908
    Investment Income: $25, 044
    Median Home Value: $362, 766
    National Rank: 287

    On the roads of Michigan

    Pierre-Olivier Valiquette/ Getty Images

  • 2. Washtenaw County

    Median Income: $79, 198
    Investment Income: $44, 796
    Median Home Value: $373, 627
    National Rank: 271

    Aerial View of Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Better Planet Media/ Getty Images

  • 1. Leelanau County

    Median Income: $72, 709
    Investment Income: $56, 192
    Median Home Value: $509, 272
    National Rank: 266

    Leland Michigan lake view with boats

    MGSmith/ Getty Images

Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it. She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel. A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community. She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.

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