Michigan State Police (MSP) are hitting the courts again this year with their Basketball Cop initiative, engaging young folks through hoops, tunes, and grub in 11 different locales, according to an earlier announcement by authorities.
Last year's pilot run saw a turnout of over 400 youngsters and 950 total attendees across three cities. This time around, 'Troopers on Tour' are expanding their reach to places like Lansing, Highland Park, Saginaw, Dearborn, Muskegon Heights, Flint, Riverview, Marquette, Traverse City, Detroit, and Inkster, where they plan to mingle with the community through informal and enjoyable interactions, Michigan State Police detailed on their website.
Top brass at MSP, including Col. James F. Grady II, are endorsing the initiative as a vehicle for sowing seeds of trust with the state's younger residents, "Michigan’s youth are the future of our state and the best way to build trust with them is by making personal connections using activities they enjoy like sports, music and food," mentioned Grady, per the Michigan State Police news release, rooting for this approach as a means to present officers as mentors and partners, not just figures to turn to in distress.
