Latest news with #AimeeBrimacombe
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan State Police leader addresses sexual harassment in what former trooper calls the ‘Big Boys' Club'
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Michigan State Police before the House Oversight Committee. A survey released last month by the Michigan State Police Troopers Association, the union representing most sworn troopers in the state's top law enforcement agency, revealed 98% of troopers did not have confidence in the leadership of Grady or his second in command, Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe. The union representing command staff also released a survey finding more than 90% of their members had 'no confidence.' Michigan lawmakers questioning state's top cop during oversight hearing Those results led to Republican lawmakers calling for Grady and Brimacombe to resign. Grady continues to have the blessing of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who appointed him to the post. Lawmakers, current and former troopers and command as well as law enforcement representatives who have worked closely with the MSP, tell the 6 News Investigates Team morale at the agency is low and troopers are disgruntled. Following his testimony, 6 News Investigates asked Grady if the Michigan State Police has a problem with gender discrimination and sexual harassment. 'I will just tell you this: Any sexual harassment complaint that is provided for – by a member, you know, or against a member – we thoroughly investigate in this agency, we take those accusations seriously in this department,' Grady responded. 'That's why we have a Professional Standards Section. So that they can investigate those type of complaints. We will determine if there is some criminal action that needs to take place or if there's just been, you know, departmental violations that have occurred. Those are things that we address in this department as the leader of this department. I don't want – I want people to feel comfortable when they come in and work. So that they can do their jobs effectively and efficiently daily. So those type of allegations we've always taken seriously in the state police and we will continue to do so.' But a months-long investigation by 6 News Investigates raises questions about whether allegations of gender discrimination and sexual harassment are investigated thoroughly. Next Monday, 6 News will debut a multi-part series of reports on the Michigan State Police based on hundreds of pages of documents, many interviews, several surveillance videos, based in part around a former Michigan State Police trooper who calls the department the 'Big Boys' Club.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Big Boys' Club': Discontent in the Michigan State Police
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Unions representing the rank and file of the Michigan State Police and Republican leaders are calling for the immediate resignations of MSP's top two officers, Col. James Grady and Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe. These calls for their resignation come after two union surveys revealed that the majority of sworn MSP troopers and command have no confidence in the leadership of Grady, who was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Brimacombe, who was appointed by Grady. In May, the Michigan State Police Troopers Association sent its nearly 1200 members a single question: 'Do you have confidence in the leadership of Col. James Brady and Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe?' More than 75% responded, with 98.48% – 1,167 of 1,185 troopers – saying they had. Only 20 troopers said they approved of leadership. Then, more than 90% of members in the Michigan State Police Command Officers Association (MSPCOA) also cast 'no confidence' ballots against the leadership. During a public hearing before the House Oversight Committee meeting July 1, Grady was confronted with anonymous statements of fear over retaliation contained in the agency's own Employee Satisfaction Survey. State Rep. Jaime Greene (R-Richmond) read the quotes. These surveys came after union leaders filed ethics complaints against both Grady and Brimacombe were elevated to their current posts. Republican State Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), chair of the Michigan Republican Party, on June 22, by the Michigan Department of Attorney General into accusations Brimacombe used her state-owned 2015 black Buick Regal for personal business from November 2020 through April 2021. A spokesperson for the Department of the Attorney General confirmed the letter had been received and was being reviewed. Others complain that Grady misled investigators about his role in a promotions scandal in Flint and for a perceived rush to judgment against a trooper accused of involuntary manslaughter after he drove over a suspect during a pursuit with the U.S. Marshals Service. Brimacombe has been accused of pushing for criminal charges for the use of excessive force by two troopers in Shiawassee County and for approving a payout to the victim in that case. The payout was just $1 less than the $1 million threshold that would require gubernatorial review. The payout was to the victim in the alleged excessive force case, and that victim was a family friend, a lawsuit filed by the two troopers alleged. Grady was appointed by Whitmer in 2023. He had worked for the department since 1998, rising through roles that included detective, assistant commander and commander. Colonel is the top command position in the MSP. In December 2023, Grady promoted Brimacombe from first lieutenant, overseeing the MSP's Risk Management Division, to lieutenant colonel and his chief deputy. Since their promotions, both leaders have been cleared of ethical and legal wrongdoing by MSP investigators and state ethics officials. Even before Grady and Brimacombe assumed command, the MSP had been roiled with discontent for at least five years as troopers had sued, alleging retaliation and discrimination. For 10 months, the 6 News Investigates Team has been reviewing a case of alleged gender discrimination within the MSP Lakeview Post specifically and throughout the 6th District in general. But the civil rights lawsuit filed by former Trooper Megan Moryc, who has twice been fired by MSP despite being restored to duty by an arbitrator and the courts, is not the first legal fight the agency has faced from troopers in recent years. Moryc contends in her lawsuit, which is being delayed while she finds new counsel, that MSP systematically discriminated against her over multiple years based on her gender. The case also alleges that MSP retaliated against her for filing complaints of discrimination within the agency. Some claims are too late Moryc v MSP register of actionsDownload Moryc's original lawsuit was filed in Eaton County Circuit Court on June 28, 2024. On Oct. 2, Eaton County Circuit Judge Kelly E. Morton dismissed much of that complaint because those aspects of the suit addressed events that were filed outside the state's statute of limitations, which stipulates the state must be notified of a claim through the Michigan Court of Claims within 6 months of the incident. Morton did allow that Moryc's claims of unlawful retaliation for reporting discrimination based on sex could proceed. But the allegations specific to the discrimination, dating back years, were barred because they exceeded the 6-month maximum. In that hearing, Morton ruled that 'there are sufficient allegations in the complaint to proceed on retaliation claim,' and that ' a genuine issue of material fact as to what constitutes an adverse employment action and as to causal connection.' Among the claims Morton allowed to proceed are claims of a perjury allegation, investigation and suspension, as well as termination, which were all part of a retaliation against Moryc over allegations of sexual harassment while at the MSP Post in Lakeview. Moryc had been represented by Patrick O'Keefe of the O'Keefe Law Firm in Delta Township, but last month he withdrew as counsel, arguing there had been an irreparable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. Moryc has until July 11 to hire a new attorney or proceed with the case representing herself. She told 6 News this week she has retained civil rights attorney Liz Abdnour, although an appearance by the attorney has not yet been filed in court. Over the coming days, the 6 News Investigates Team will reveal a series of reports about the sexualized nature of the Lakeview Post and Moryc's battle with the state's top law enforcement agency, internally and externally. Current and former MSP officials, law enforcement officials who worked closely with the agency, lawyers, and politicians, have said Moryc's battle is a microcosm of the turbulence inside the agency. 'It's pretty clear the Professional Standards Section has indeed been weaponized against members who seem to be targeted for reasons other than the crimes or policy violations they're accused of,' retired MSP Inspector Mike Hahn wrote in an email to 6 News. Hahn was second in command of the 7th District and served under retired MSP Capt. Michael Caldwell. Both men sued MSP for racial discrimination and retaliation in federal court. Those cases were dismissed. 'Based on what I know about her case it would certainly appear so, especially in light of similar cases over the last six years. It's pretty clear the Professional Standards Section has indeed been weaponized against members who seem to be targeted for reasons other than the crimes or policy violations they're accused of. It certainly reminds me of Lavrentiy Beria's phrase, 'Show me the man and I'll show you the crime.'This atmosphere began when Governor Whitmer's DEI policies were forced upon the department via Ret. Col. Joseph Gasper in 2020. Double-standards and corresponding demotions and firings began then and may have actually increased under this administration, which in my opinion, is the most non-transparent in department history. Merit and trust have gone out the window at MSP and troopers are unhappy and rightfully afraid. That sentiment was clearly evidenced in a recent MSPTA/COA opinion poll. When troopers feel afraid of their leaders, they feel afraid to do their jobs, and that endangers the public.' Insp. Mike Hahn (ret.) Asst. Commander, 7th Dist. For his part, Caldwell, who is also retired, declined a full interview with the 6 News Investigates Team, but he did share the following statement about the allegations of Moryc's alleged perjury: 'This recent case is yet another example of the MSP weaponizing administrative and criminal processes against its own members to suppress dissent within their ranks and advance political agendas that align with their preferred narratives.'Despite a long and growing list of their actions being overturned by the courts, they persist because the process itself is the punishment. Without significant leadership changes at the top and to the organizational structure of the agency, trooper morale and support will remain at virtually zero.' Capt. Mike Caldwell (Ret.)Former Captain of the MSP 7th District GOP leaders demand action The resignation demands for Grady and Brimacombe come after the high-profile criminal prosecutions of Grand Rapids Police Officer Chris Schurr and Det. Sgt. Brian Keely. Schurr was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of motorist in Grand Rapids in 2022. But on May 8, , and a mistrial was called. Prosecutors they would not pursue a new trial. Keely was charged with involuntary manslaughter after with his while serving as part of a federal task force seeking fugitives. The case was moved to federal court, and the . Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Linden) has been leading a year-long inquiry into faltering morale in the department, a news release from his office reports. That inquiry has included interviews with troopers. 'An overwhelming majority of our troopers have made their voices loud and clear,' Mueller said . 'They have no confidence in the current leadership. 'It is corrupt, dishonest, and doesn't keep the best interest of its own troopers in mind. If they have any shame, Grady and Brimacombe should resign right now.' Gongwer News reported on Tuesday that MSP officials are challenging subpoenas issued to various troopers by the House Oversight Committee. A letter from Assistant Attorney General Eric Jamison challenges the subpoenas by the committee on several fronts. The subscription newsletter focuses on reporting on state government operations and affairs. The attorney argued the subpoenas did not provide the subjects with due process, nor enough information to know what, if any, confidential or protected information those being deposed may be asked about. 'Individual employees are not authorized to unilaterally decide for MSP what privileges or other statutory protections, if any, may be invoked or waived or, relatedly, what information is otherwise protected from disclosure by applicable law on behalf of MSP,' the letter says. 'The process outlined by the House rules places MSP employees in the untenable position of being forced to make decisions about disclosures they may not be authorized or legally able to make. The House Oversight Committee has been conducting investigations into morale and ethical issues within the MSP's top leadership. It's also been investigating election training materials and information, leading to a subpoena battle with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat. 'An astounding majority of over 1,000 of Michigan's finest have said that they have no confidence in their leaders. It has become alarmingly clear that Col. Grady and Lt. Col. Brimacombe's failed leadership has disparaged the reputation of the Michigan State Police,' Sen. Runestad said in a statement sent to 6 News. 'I demand they step down immediately and urge the governor to relieve them of their duties if they do not resign voluntarily.' Runestad was joined by Republican Senate Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township), a Republican candidate for governor. 'The MSP troopers' vote is a damning indictment of the current administration. It is undeniable that this is the absolute worst leadership our state police has ever seen and completely unacceptable for the troopers and public they serve. 'There needs to be a change at the top and that change needs to happen immediately. Col. Grady must step down or the governor must relieve him of his duties.' Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township), emailed statement Support for leaders During all of this, representatives for Whitmer and the MSP told 6 News Investigates they stand behind the department's leaders. Shanon Banner, spokesperson for MSP, sent 6 News the following statement: 'Michigan State Police (MSP) Director Col. James F. Grady II and his leadership team provide unwavering support to department members and are proud of the public safety services delivered every day to the public and our law enforcement partners across the state. 'It has been a priority for Colonel Grady to conduct in-person visits to MSP worksites to listen to member feedback. During these visits, he's engaged in meaningful conversations, including seeking input from the membership about morale and opportunities for areas of improvement. 'Under Colonel Grady's leadership, the department has continued to invest in better training and professional development opportunities, updated equipment and improved technology. Further, dozens of new troopers joined the ranks last month and this year's proposed budget includes pay raises for troopers and sergeants.'Colonel Grady remains committed to supporting the dedicated, hardworking men and women of the MSP and is focused on moving the department forward while maintaining the department's proud tradition of service through excellence, integrity and courtesy.' Shanon Banner, MSP spokesperson, statement And from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, there was this statement of support: Stacey LaRouche of the governor's press office: 'Colonel Grady has demonstrated strong and steady leadership at the helm of the Michigan State Police. He has worked his way up through the ranks over 25 years, putting public safety first and keeping our communities safe. Thanks to the work of Colonel Grady and troopers across the state, in partnership with local law enforcement, Michigan has seen major drops in violent crime recently. He's also had troopers' backs by fighting for pay raises for the men and women who risk their life every day to keep our state safe. We have full confidence in Colonel Grady to continue getting the job done.' Stacey LaRouche, emailed statement from the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Not the only case Moryc's case is not the only legal challenge 6 News Investigates encountered. 6 News was the first to report that seven MSP troopers were suing the state for allegations of state and federal civil rights violations in August 2024. Those claims arise from a promotion scandal at the Flint Post. O'Keefe separately is suing Brimacombe on behalf of two other troopers. On Sept. 23, 2024, Troopers Cody Lukas and Justin Simpson allege that Brimacombe, while heading the agency's risk management section, coerced Shiawassee County Prosecutor Scott Koerner into filing charges against them for an incident involving a friend of Brimacombe's family. Lukas was charged with a felony, misconduct in office, and a misdemeanor assault and battery. Simpson was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery. The criminal cases were subsequently dismissed by Koerner after the district court ruled there was not probable cause to move forward on the misconduct in office felony. Koerner dismissed the two misdemeanor charges. Then the man who accused the two troopers of using excessive force filed a civil suit against the department. As the head of Risk Management at the time, Brimacombe decided which cases received settlement offers and how much those offers were for. She 'consulted' on a settlement with the man approved by the department for one dollar less than $1 million threshold that required a review and approval from the governor's office. An MSP Professional Standards investigation, the department's internal affairs division, cleared Brimacombe of any wrongdoing, but the lawsuit against her was transferred on Oct. 10 to the Michigan Court of Claims. Another perjury case The allegations against Brimacombe are not the first time she has been at the center of a legal controversy. Caldwell sued MSP, alleging he was discriminated against because he was white and expressed concerns about the department's diversity goals. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 21, 2021, in Livingston County, alleged that Brimacombe filed a perjury complaint against Caldwell with the department's Professional Standards Section, WLNS media partner WHMI reported at that time. That investigation resulted in a request to the Livingston County Prosecutor, Ashley Williams, to charge Caldwell with the felony. That request was denied, and MSP settled Caldwell's lawsuit in late December 2023, The Alpena News reported. In 2018, First Lt. Twana Powell sued MSP, accusing the department of violating the Whistleblowers' Protection Act as well as discrimination based on race, gender, age and disability. Powell had served as the head of the department's Internal Affairs division, which has since become the Professional Standards Section. She alleged that when investigations into troopers' alleged racial discrimination emerged, she received pushback. In May 2020, MSP and Powell settled the lawsuit, and she received $2 million. Coincidentally, it was Powell who in 2017 signed off on the investigation against former Trooper Trevin Antcliff, which recommended Antcliff be suspended for five days for an incident of domestic violence against his then-wife, Nina. The two were in the midst of a contentious divorce. Moryc's relationship with Antcliff, a former supervisor turned lover, is the thread that has led to her complaints against the department and to the department's reason for firing her the second time: alleged perjury in his divorce from Nina Antcliff. However, Brimacombe filed an affidavit – a legal document sworn under oath with a penalty of perjury – she had no 'first-hand or unique knowledge' about allegations by Moryc that the perjury investigation was an act of retaliation. Motion-to-Quash-Subpoeanas-3.18.25Download Emails obtained by Moryc through the Freedom of Information Act may raise questions about her claim. Brimacombe-InvolvementDownload Moryc has alleged that the criminal perjury investigation by MSP was retaliation against Moryc for having filed other complaints. Complaint-1st-Amended-SIGNEDDownload On January 15, 2024, Lt. Col. Brimacombe was notified by email from Stephanie Horton, Human Resources Director for the MSP, of the complaint by Moryc. The subject line was 'FWD: Complaint Against Command Staff.' Horton wrote in that email, which contained Moryc's complaint against First Lt. Nicole Bock, an investigator for the Professional Standards Section, this two-word body: 'For discussion.' Bock had initiated the perjury investigation of both Moryc and Antcliff. A subsequent report by the Professional Standards Section, sent by email to commanders at MSP three days later, begins with the observation that Capt. Cameron Henke, who reviewed the allegations, was contacted by Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacombe 'to review an allegation against F/Lt. Nicole Bock.' Two months later, on March 16, emails revealed that Moryc's complaint was deemed unfounded and closed. Banner, the spokesperson for the MSP, was asked about this information by email. 'Surface-level awareness of a matter learned through a third party does not constitute first-hand or unique knowledge,' she wrote in an email to 6 News Investigates Wednesday morning. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or sexual violence, there is help. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local law enforcement agency. For support related to domestic violence, call: 1-800-799-7233 For support related to sexual assault, call: (4673) 6 News Digital Producers , Trevor King and 6 News Digital Content Manager Duncan Phenix contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
