State Rep. Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) called out the high command of the Michigan State Police (MSP) on Tuesday after they leaked the identities of several officers being deposed by the Michigan House. DeBoyer learned on Friday that the Michigan press corps had discovered the identities of the officers, despite only the House’s legal counsel and MSP having previously known the names of all deponents.

“I know for a fact that nobody in my office, our caucus legal counsel, or I revealed this information to the press, and that makes the culprit in this case rather obvious,” DeBoyer said. “That MSP’s top brass revealed identities of officers within their department is rather ironic, considering the whole reason for these depositions is for us to get a better picture of how some of MSP’s highest command officers failed the men and women who serve under them. Their effort to undermine the Legislature’s investigation is despicable.”

The Michigan House’s investigation started following allegations of serial misconduct within MSP’s highest ranks, including by MSP Director Colonel James Grady and Lieutenant Colonel Aimee Brimacombe. Both Grady and Brimacombe recently received a vote of “no confidence” from 98.5% of MSP troopers and 90% of command officers in a poll conducted by the Michigan State Police Troopers Association. The allegations of their misconduct include favoritism in staff promotions, giving themselves inappropriate salary bonuses, and instituting overly restrictive policies preventing troopers from doing their jobs.

“Throughout our investigation into MSP’s misconduct, the House Oversight Committee has made very careful efforts to protect the privacy of the officers coming forward,” DeBoyer said. “We made this decision out of respect both for the deponents who we wanted to protect from unnecessary retaliation and for MSP, to avoid prematurely stirring up controversy within their department. Unfortunately, MSP’s top brass decided to expose their own people by revealing their identities to the press and to the public.

“This has only reaffirmed our belief that this department needs legislative oversight. Michigan’s top law enforcement officials must be held accountable, and if Governor Whitmer won’t do it, we will have to. Our investigation will continue, but now under more precarious circumstances thanks to MSP’s lack of discretion and ethical standards.”