October 28, 2004

EAST LANSING. Michigan State Police Director Colonel Tadarial J. Sturdivant is pleased to announce the department will complete an organizational realignment by January 2005 that will position the department to better respond to the needs of local communities.

The new organizational structure changes the department’s service delivery method to a regional command structure, which will provide the department with more flexibility to adjust services to meet the diverse needs of different regions throughout the state. This change will not impact the types of services offered by the department.

"This organizational structure modifies how the department delivers its services from a function-based approach, which emphasizes consistency and efficiency, to a strategy-based approach, which focuses on outcomes and response," stated Sturdivant. "While the old structure served the department well when life was more static, this shift is necessary to position the department to respond to the rapidly changing needs of local communities and the department’s increasing role in homeland security."

This realignment plan is the result of input gathered from both internal and external stakeholders involved in several projects the department has undertaken over the last five years.

In addition to instituting a regional command structure, this plan also strategically grows the department in a number of areas, including forensic science, emergency management and intelligence. These three areas will receive additional staff to respond to increasing responsibilities and demand. Emphasis will also be placed on risk management, best practices, and research and policy development, with the creation of several new positions with responsibility for ensuring appropriate quality controls and standards are met at all work sites.

Thanks to the identification and elimination of inefficiencies within the department, this realignment plan is cost-neutral. Additionally, the positions created in this plan will be funded through internal position transfers.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Shanon Akans, Public Affairs Section, (517) 336-6364

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