Contact: Shanon Akans, MSP, 517-336-6364

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2005

Lansing.  Nearly 100 state, county and local law enforcement officers representing 22 different agencies are deploying to Louisiana as part of a joint effort to provide law enforcement assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  This marks the first time in Michigan State Police (MSP) history officers have been deployed to another state to provide assistance.

The convoy of officers is leaving the MSP Training Academy early tomorrow morning for a minimum 14-day deployment.  They will arrive in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, Sept. 6, and will meet up with MSP command officers who left Michigan on Sunday.  MSP command officers will coordinate with the Louisiana State Police to most effectively use Michigan resources.

The convoy includes a six member Emergency Support Team with full equipment, a mobile command vehicle with communications capability and a National Guard transport vehicle with enough supplies to sustain the officers for four days.

Prior to deployment, the officers met at the Training Academy where they received necessary immunizations and briefing materials.

Law enforcement resources from Michigan were requested by the State of Louisiana through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) on Saturday, Sept. 3.

Agencies sending officers include: Barry County Sheriff’s Department, Berkley Police Department,  Burton Police Department, Charlevoix County Sheriff’s Department, Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department, Dearborn Police Department, Emmet County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Rapids Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Jackson Police Department, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Lansing Police Department, Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department, Life EMS Medic, Mackinaw City Police Department, Meridian Township Police Department, Michigan State Police, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Owosso Police Department, Redford Police Department, Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department, and Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department.

Many agencies statewide have offered up their services for future deployments as well.