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17-07-2025
- Politics
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‘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
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17-07-2025
- Politics
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‘Big Boys' Club': ‘Wolf in the hen house'
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – After nearly five years of fighting to keep her job as a trooper with the Michigan State Police, Megan Moryc was fired – for the second time – on Feb. 13 for allegedly lying under oath during a divorce hearing in 2018. She says she is the victim of gender discrimination and has filed suit. MSP says the agency is protecting its employees from an abusive woman. Moryc, 40, had faced examination by her superiors, prosecutors, judges, arbiters and appellate judges – from administrative hearings to the Michigan Supreme Court – and one thing has been crystal clear: No matter what was decided, MSP officials wanted to withdraw her appointment as a trooper and send her back to civilian life. 'Big Boys' Club': Discontent in the Michigan State Police All of this is playing out as unions representing troopers and commanders for the MSP have in the leadership of the MSP's top brass, Col. James F. Grady and his second-in-command, Lt. Col. Aimee Brimacomb. Both unions have called for their resignations. The head of the Michigan Republican Party and current state Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) joined the unions in calling for the leaders' resignations. He's also called for criminal investigations into Brimacombe related to accusations she used a 2015 black Buick Regal issued by the state for her work for personal travel. The office of Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement supporting Grady, whom she appointed to the post, and his second-in-command. In the middle of all of that is the case involving Moryc, whose firing in February followed an administrative hearing on Jan. 7 that was just the latest confrontation in her battle with MSP. Since August 2024, the 6 News Investigates Team has been examining this battle between Moryc and the MSP, reviewing hundreds of pages of internal investigations, court filings, court opinions, emails and prosecutorial communications. This has included audio and transcripts, surveillance videos and on-camera interviews with Moryc. Those interviews and documents obtained through Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, commonly referred to as FOIA, and previous court filings came before March 25, when a judge in Eaton County Circuit Court issued an order preventing Moryc – or anyone in the case – from releasing anything obtained from discovery or during depositions of her ongoing Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act lawsuit against the agency. Officials for the state of Michigan have declined to respond to detailed questions from the 6 News Investigates Team for months, but for the next several days, you will read and view what 6 News Investigates has learned from this labyrinth of allegations, investigations, criminal cases and internal actions and inactions by MSP. You will learn about Moryc's fight for a career at a sexualized 'big boys' club' at the Lakeview Post of the Michigan State Police. Where this started MSP leadership first fired Moryc, a trooper since 2016, in 2021 after she accepted a plea deal to assault charges following a drunken incident with fellow troopers during a union gathering. She served 21 days in the Grand Traverse County Jail and then was fired on internal charges related to alleged sexual assaults in the incident, charges an arbitrator could not determine to be accurate, charges that were dropped as part of the plea deal. In February 2022, the arbitrator ordered Moryc to be reinstated. Her termination was downgraded to 6 months of unpaid suspension, and the state was on the hook for back pay to June 1, 2021. Arb Decision MSP & MSPTA – Megan Moryc discharge[7091]Download Through attorneys at the office of the Michigan Attorney General, MSP challenged that ruling, which was overturned by a local judge, reinstated by the Michigan Court of Appeals and then upheld when the state Supreme Court declined to hear new arguments. MSP leadership withheld her back pay until May 22, 2025, and the Michigan Department of Treasury confirmed that she received a check from MSP. 'The check description reads 'MAKE WHOLE SETTLEMENT,'' treasury spokesman Ron Liex wrote in an email to 6 News Investigates. Liex was unable to confirm the amount of the check, but 6 News has learned it was for tens of thousands of dollars less than what Moryc ought to have been paid from June 1, 2021, until Oct. 2, 2025, when she returned to the state payroll. Deducted from her back pay were payments for premiums for health insurance she didn't have while the case worked through the courts and MSP did not employ her. In addition, the check deducted annual pay she received from another job she took while the case wound through the legal system. An assistant attorney general argued in December 2024 that Moryc could not be fully restored to duty, nor should the state have to pay her the totality of her back pay, because her law enforcement license had lapsed during the years-long appeals process. When required to restore Moryc to duty, MSP immediately placed her on paid suspension while the agency investigated her for allegedly lying during a court hearing. That investigation soon came to an end. This past Dec. 20, MSP investigators declared she had lied under oath and recommended her immediate termination, and on Jan. 7, she again stood before command staff in Grand Rapids for a disciplinary hearing to address that recommendation. The charge emerged from her testimony during the divorce of former Trooper Trevin Saxon Antcliff, Moryc's supervisor-turned-friend-turned-sex-partner-turned-dating partner-turned-lover, a man who MSP confirms resigned while facing felony perjury charges for the same case and separate misdemeanor domestic violence charges. Antcliff's resignation in January 2024 had allowed him to keep his nearly 20-year pension, despite the pending criminal cases and having faced disciplinary action, in part, for having sexually harassed Moryc, an admission that is part of her civil rights lawsuit against the department. Given all those issues, this is what, in part, Moryc told the disciplinary hearing on Jan. 7: 'The fact is, we are here for two reasons today. First, the men who have investigated this case appear to be incapable of providing a woman sexual agency. … I. DID. NOT. LIE. … Second, this department had constructive notice that Trooper Trevin Antcliff served as a danger to every woman he came in contact with. … The department is perusing [sic] this alleged perjury not because it believes a crime was committed but because it is attempting to mitigate its' [sic] liabilities and to undermine my character and integrity. Let the facts stand as they are.' With-all-due-respectDownload After Moryc's statement, officials adjourned, they said, to consider the allegations more thoroughly. Then on Feb. 13, Moryc was called before the administrative hearing team again. This time, there were no statements from her. She was terminated. Not wanting to talk about it Dozens of emails and phone calls to county prosecutors, troopers and command staff identified in the reports have gone unreturned or referred to others. MSP spokesperson Shanon Banner has issued only blanket statements, avoiding answering specific questions: 'The Michigan State Police has a long-standing tradition of demanding the highest possible standards of professional conduct from its enlisted and civilian members. All allegations of misconduct are aggressively investigated. Oversight of the investigation process is the responsibility of the Professional Standards Section. Independent of whether a criminal charge results in a conviction, the employee may still be subject to administrative actions if the investigation reveals a violation of department policy. Policy violations are investigated thoroughly and acted upon in a manner consistent with labor law and collective bargaining agreements.' Emailed statement from Shanon Banner, communications director, Michigan State Police The office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also declined to discuss specifics regarding the years-long legal battle to keep Moryc from the job. 'The Department of Attorney General's only involvement in the matters you have identified is representing the Michigan State Police in two cases, MSP v MSPTA regarding a prior arbitration with a trooper, and Moryc v MSP, an employment case brought by the same trooper against MSP,' spokesperson Danny Wimmer wrote in response to questions from 6 News. 'As both matters are currently pending in court, we cannot comment at this time. And since our office is serving as legal counsel to MSP any discussions or advice related to those cases are attorney-client privileged communications, and cannot be discussed.' Email statement from Danny Wimmer, spokesperson for the Department of Attorney General. Neither MSP nor the Office of the Attorney General has explained how this lengthy legal war has benefited taxpayers, who are footing the bills. Complaint-1st-Amended-SIGNEDDownload Moryc sued MSP in Eaton County Circuit Court, alleging violations of the state's anti-discrimination law – the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. While allegations of retaliation against her, such as the perjury investigation, continue as a part of her lawsuit, earlier allegations, including sexual harassment, have been barred by the court because too much time has elapsed between when the alleged discrimination occurred and when the complaint reached the court. Moryc v MSP register of actionsDownload The criminal case Moryc had an unblemished record as a trooper stationed at the Lakeview Post from her hiring in 2016 until October 2020, when she was accused of physically and sexually assaulting fellow troopers during a drunken roughhousing session at a union event in Traverse City. The above video is a compilation of snippets from about 15 minutes of surveillance video from a resort in Grand Traverse County, Oct. 13, 2024. Moryc can be seen in the light orange-colored shirt in the video. All 15 minutes of surveillance video were used by MSP commander staff to justify Moryc's termination in 2021 and during an arbitration hearing. 6 News Investigates will release all of the video from that case in a future report in this ongoing series. Moryc was charged with two counts of assault and battery and two counts of criminal sexual conduct, 4th degree and ultimately entered a 'no contest' plea to the two counts of assault and battery, misdemeanors that allowed her to continue a career in law enforcement. A 'no contest' plea is distinct from pleading guilty; pleading no contest means a defendant accepts conviction but does not admit guilt. Moryc District Court Register of ActionsDownload But 86-2 District Court Judge Robert Cooney discarded her agreement with prosecutors, sending her to jail for 30 days, 21 of which she served. She was fired from her job and became lost in what she calls 'purgatory,' leaving her with a criminal record and mired in a legal battle for reinstatement. Letter from Thomas Deasy regarding service in jailDownload Just days before Moryc was scheduled for release from the jail, MSP officials showed up, MSP folders, and served Moryc with notice of an administrative interview, to be held while she was an inmate. The service of the administrative interview effectively identified her as a law enforcement agent, she argued, and put her health and safety at risk. The interview was delayed until she was out of jail and ultimately led to the administrative hearing in which she was discharged in the summer of 2021. After an arbitrator in February 2022 ordered the MSP to reinstate Moryc with back pay – ruling the activities in Traverse City didn't rise to the level requiring termination from employment – MSP leaders, represented by the attorney general's office, appealed. MSP argued the arbitrator had exceeded her authority in the arbitration decision, Ingham County Circuit Court Judge James. Jamo agreed. In that appeal by MSP, Jamo overturned the arbitration award, but his judgment was reversed on Dec. 28, 2023, in a published unanimous opinion by a 3-judge panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals. A published ruling by the Court of Appeals applies statewide unless it is overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court. Morycc Court of Appeals DecisionDownload 'Moreover, unlike the CBA [collective bargaining agreement] at issue in Lenawee Co, nothing in the CBA here provides that an employee charged with or convicted of a crime is subject to mandatory termination, nor does it indicate that the arbitrator did not have the authority to reduce the grievant's punishment from termination to an unpaid suspension,' the judges opined. Michigan Supreme Court order in MorycDownload And the lawyers for the attorney general did appeal again to the Michigan Supreme Court, which on Sept. 18, 2024, declined to hear the case, thus upholding the reinstatement. MSP put Moyrc back on state payroll on Oct. 2, but – 'before the ink was dry' on her human resources paperwork, she said – she was placed on paid administrative leave but ordered to be available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lost her license Motion for Entry of Order to Enforce Arbitration AwardDownload While the internal investigation into whether or not Moryc lied under oath plowed forward, lawyers from the state and her union were battling in court over the original arbitration decision from February 2022. In a hearing on Dec. 18 in Ingham County Circuit Court, again before Judge Jamo, Assistant Attorney General Mary Waddell argued that Moryc was back on the State of Michigan payroll – and had been since Oct. 2 – but she couldn't be rehired as a trooper. Jamo-order-2024-enfore-arbitration-awardDownload 'She cannot legally be reinstated to an MSP trooper position because she lost her MCOLES (Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards) certification,' Wardell told Jamo, citing the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, the licensing agent for law enforcement in Michigan. Timothy Dlugos, an attorney representing the Michigan State Police Trooper Association, the union for MSP troopers, argued on Moryc's behalf. 'Her MCOLES license only lapsed because of the dilatory action of having to go through the appeal process here,' Dlugos told Jamo. 'It lapses after two years of inactivity. At the time she was ordered back to work by the arbitrator, her MCOLES license hadn't lapsed.' Moryc's capacity to renew her license with MCOLES remained unclear as the MSP investigated allegations of perjury. To date, she has not seen her license renewed, and with an administrative finding that she lied, it may be impossible for her to renew that license. If she does, she will find herself on a '' of law enforcement agents accused of being untruthful. That list is made available to defense attorneys, allowing defendants to impeach the credibility of a law enforcement agent during trial. The testimony Moryc's alleged perjury stemmed from whether she lied under oath on Oct. 9, 2018, during the divorce proceeding in Montcalm County between Antcliff and his second wife, Nina. At issue: Were Antcliff and Moryc in a romantic relationship, and was she honest in her testimony? Then-trooper Antcliff had been assigned as Moryc's field training officer for the final two-thirds of her on-the-job training in 2016-17. She informed MSP investigators that a sexual relationship between them began while she was his trainee, and the sexual activity would later develop into a romantic relationship that ultimately collapsed. In early 2024, attorneys from the Newaygo County Prosecutor's Office had declined to bring criminal charges against Moryc for that alleged perjury, saying those charges were 'unlikely to meet the burden of proof at trial.' Similarly, though, Newaygo County Prosecutor Rachel Robinson was prepared to issue felony charges for perjury against Antcliff for his testimony in the same hearing. Newaygo-County-FOIA-Antcliff-1Download Former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara McQuade says she's not surprised that formal criminal charges on perjury had not been filed. 'Perjury cases are very challenging because you must prove that the person knowingly made a statement that was false. Misleading statements are not sufficient. Omissions are not sufficient,' McQuade wrote in an email to the 6 News Investigates Team. 'In addition, the false statement must be material to the testimony. That is, it must have been important to the outcome of the case.' Department 'violation' Despite that philosophical consideration and the absence of new evidence from that criminal investigation, MSP Professional Standards Section investigator Special Lt. Christopher Tuckey concluded Moryc had committed perjury. Moryc was notified of the decision on Dec. 20. The Professional Standards Section is the agency's internal affairs investigation department, which handles both criminal investigations against troopers and alleged policy violations by troopers. The notice about her hearing on Jan. 7 claims Tuckey's investigation 'established that you violated department policy, and the law, when you perjured yourself while testifying, under oath, in a divorce proceeding of your (then) boyfriend when called by his attorney as a witness in defense of his alleged infidelity with you in 2017.' Sexual harassment Antcliff finalDownload MSP rules allow the agency to discipline troopers for alleged crimes, even if prosecution does not occur. Transcripts from the divorce proceeding on Oct. 9, 2018, reveal that Moryc was never asked if she was having a sexual relationship with then-Trooper Antcliff. Attorneys only asked when the two began dating romantically. In her final divorce order and opinion, dating Oct. 29, 2018, 20 days after the alleged perjury, Montcalm County Circuit Court Judge Suzanne Hoseth wrote, 'Again, this Court recognizes that when working closely with another individual, particularly in life-or-death situations where they are called to protect the public and each other, it is not uncommon for the boundaries to blur between a professional relationship and something more.' She does not conclude in her opinion that either trooper lied on the stand during testimony before her. The first document below was given to 6 News by Moyrc, and any handwriting or annotations on it were made by her. Judgement of Divorce and OpinionDownload 2018 divorce transcriptsDownload 'Fabricated interpretation' Moryc vehemently denies that at the time of the incident she was questioned about during testimony, she was in a 'romantic' or 'dating' relationship with Antcliff. 'He [Antcliff] was like my best friend because I was secluded from all my friends, any support system. I had no support system there, I didn't,' Moryc told the 6 News Investigates Team. 'He started pursuing more of the physical. Would want to come over after work. Bring alcohol and want to, you know, stay up and drink and have a good time. And then this physical relationship formed.' Moryc, who was married at the time to Christopher Lee Symonds, says Antcliff's advances made her uncomfortable. 'I never wanted to cheat on my husband. I never,' she says. 'I wasn't comfortable. I told him I wasn't comfortable.' MSP investigators said Moryc's explanation was a 'fabricated interpretation of the meaning of 'relationship,' as it related to your involvement with your (then) boyfriend, was material in the court testimony and weaponized by you to defend your integrity during administrative investigation.' As Moryc's second field training officer, Antcliff had the authority and responsibility to report on her training and progress. His assessments could have resulted in her losing her position with MSP because she was still on probationary status. That eventually led to disciplinary action pending against him when Antcliff resigned and walked away with his pension. Moryc told investigators his make-or-break assessments of her performance were 'in the back of my mind.' Wendy Murphy, a professor at New England Law in Boston and leader of the Women and Children's Advocacy Project at the school, said the situation described is illegal under civil rights laws. 'Quid pro quo sexual harassment doesn't involve a question of wantedness,' she says. 'It's per se improper.' She said the threat of ending the career of a subordinate is 'inherent in the relationship.' 'A wolf in the hen house' For its part, MSP commanders determined Sept. 26, 2023, in an administrative charging document, that Antcliff had committed sexual harassment. 'After review of the attached PSS Investigation, there are several Official Order violations to include Sexual Harassment (Quid Pro Quo), impairing the efficiency of the agency, and the below code of conduct,' the charging document reveals. Tuckey's investigation revealed command staff had concerns about placing Moryc with Antcliff for training because he was a 'womanizer' and had a 'negative reputation with women.' The decision to place her under his supervision was made because she was married at the time. 'We felt that we can't consider what are essentially rumors and conjecture in how we do our assignments,' Lt. Rob Davis told investigators about assigning Moryc to Antcliff and concerns about his 'womanizing.' Much of what Davis told investigators was summarized in the subsequent investigative report. The quotes come directly from the audio interview. Davis went on to share that during one meeting where placement of Moryc was considered, another command staff member referred to the situation as 'putting a wolf in the hen house or something like that.' As Moryc completed her training phases and became a full road officer, her sexual relationship with Antcliff continued. She says she's not sure exactly when that relationship shifted from best friends who had sex to a 'dating' relationship. 'We never really defined lines,' she said. 'I would say the most defining point in this relationship that started out as, you know, we were best friends, was, you know, in late like December 2017 – when I was divorced and we were looking at getting a house together. Before then, we hadn't really because we were best friends, and I don't really know how to define it.' The 2023 investigation of Antcliff concluded he had engaged in a sexual relationship with Moryc while he was her field training officer. 'During the principal interview with Trooper Antcliff, he admitted engaging in [a] sexual relationship with Trooper Moryc beginning approximately two weeks after she started FTO with him,' the report concludes. Court cases continue When Moryc was called in again and fired on Feb. 13, union officials filed an arbitration notice on her behalf. On April 14, a hearing was held before an arbitrator. Post-hearing legal briefs were required to be filed with the arbitrator by the end of business on June 3. Those records are not yet available. The arbitrator is expected to release a ruling in 30 to 60 days from June 3. Moryc's suit in Eaton County Circuit Court, alleging she has been discriminated against by MSP because of her gender and alleging she has been illegally retaliated against by the agency for reporting that discrimination, continues. A Michigan Department of Civil Rights investigation into those allegations was dismissed by the agency after Moryc filed suit, a spokesperson for the MDCR told the 6 News Investigates team. MDCR #643570_RedactedDownload MSP's only response to her claims was Banner's blanket statement. The state attorney general's office also offered a similar response about its limited involvement. 'The Department of Attorney General's only involvement in the matters you have identified is representing the Michigan State Police in two cases, MSP v MSPTA regarding a prior arbitration with a trooper, and Moryc v MSP, an employment case brought by the same trooper against MSP,' spokesperson Danny Wimmer wrote in response to questions from 6 News, including how this case benefitted the taxpayers of the state of Michigan. 'As both matters are currently pending in court, we cannot comment at this time. And since our office is serving as legal counsel to MSP any discussions or advice related to those cases are attorney-client privileged communications, and cannot be discussed.' 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
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan State Police director defends leadership amid calls for his resignation
Michigan State Police Director Col. James Grady speaks to reporters following a joint meeting of the Michigan House Oversight Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Michigan State Police. July 1, 2025 | Photo by Ben Solis/Michigan Advance Michigan State Police Director Col. James Grady said Tuesday that a no confidence vote from troopers and command officers didn't represent the full scope of his department, and that he was working to address issues of low morale that began before his time as the head of the agency. Grady's comments came during a joint hearing of the Michigan House Oversight Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Michigan State Police. Some members of the Republican-led House of Representatives and the GOP members of the Senate have called for Grady's resignation due to complaints from troopers and command officers who have claimed they are fearful of speaking up about department policies under Grady and have faced retaliation when they have. Grady said that the vote of no confidence from the Michigan State Police Troopers Association and the Michigan State Police Command Officers Association in June was not an MSP-sanctioned survey nor was it reflective of employee surveys issued by the department. Overall, Grady highlighted his years of service to the department and the discretion that comes with his position to make leadership and command changes if needed. 'I'm doing the work, representative,' Grady said in response to questions from Republican state Reps. Mike Mueller and Jay DeBoyer, the respective chairs of the joint committees. 'I'm doing everything that I can to ensure that the morale increases, because I, again, respect all of the members of our agency, and I want them to be well. I want them to be in a good place. I want them to want to come to work, because when they're in a good place, they can come and do the work effectively and efficiently every day. And that's something that I support as a leader of this department.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX That was how Grady responded to most of the questions lobbed at him from Republicans and Democrats alike on the joint panel, much of which were fastballs and somewhat critical of Grady and his handling of the department. Grady further noted multiple worksite visits, feedback missions and an open door policy as ways he was trying hard to boost morale. Grady was appointed in Sept. 2023 as director of the department by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, following the departure of former director Joseph Gasper. Over the last few years, troopers and command officers have complained that Grady was out of line when he came out with a statement that did not initially support former trooper Brian Keely when he was charged in May 2024 in the death of Samuel Sterling. The charges against Keely have since been dropped by a U.S. District Court judge, but the Michigan Department of Attorney General has said it would appeal the dismissal. Troopers and command officers also took issue with Grady promoting Chief Deputy Director Aimee Brimacombe as his second-in-command because of her alleged lack of experience and multiple complaints made against her before she was elevated several ranks. Other grievances include Grady's decision to not keep existing command or leadership staff and replacing them with a new team, which Grady said Tuesday was a means to better serve the department and bring commanders on board with unique strengths. Troopers filed an ethics complaint against Grady and Brimacombe in January. A handful of troopers also filed lawsuits against Brimacombe questioning her leadership, and questioned performance bonuses Grady and Brimacombe received after only a short time in their roles. The morass culminated in the vote of no confidence, which Grady said was a first, but later noted that similar questions have been posed to trooper and command officer unions in the past questioning the leadership of previous directors, dating back to 2018. Some have questioned whether the complaints have an undertone of racial or gender bias, seeing as troopers have in the past complained or sued over the department's diversity recruitment policies that emerged under Gasper, but before Grady's ascension to his current role. Although Grady is not the first Black officer to be promoted to colonel, some have called into question the deluge of complaints against the combo of Grady and Brimacombe as the department's leaders. That said, DeBoyer, Mueller and others noted that although they have great respect for the department and Grady's years of service in law enforcement, maybe he wasn't the right leader for the agency despite his commitment to the department and its troopers. 'I appreciate that, and I don't have any reason to believe that that is not who you are, but the results of the survey, unfortunately, and with all due respect, says otherwise,' DeBoyer said. 'You made the statement that the Michigan State Police is one of the most respected agencies in the entire country, frankly, and it has been for decades. So, when you see that level of lack of confidence, that's very concerning to us as legislators.' Mueller, a former law enforcement officer, also said that it appeared to him Grady wasn't a bad person, but sometimes good people aren't great leaders. 'It's not anything about your character at all. It's about the men and women, 98% of the men and women, that drive around those police cars [who] fear retaliation,' Mueller said. The gloves were off, however, after that first bit of cordial opening statements. DeBoyer noted that the House Oversight Committee, which he chairs, has deposed several members of Michigan State Police in the matter of his leadership and had several say that there was a culture of fear in the department for either saying the wrong things, sharing their opinions or speaking up on leadership matters. The depositions, which were not shared in full during the committee nor made public elsewhere, also showed troopers and command officers experienced retaliation for doing so, resulting in work assignment loss or other reprimands. State Rep. Jamie Greene (R-Richmond) read some of the commentary from MSP's 2024 employment engagement survey. One response noted that it was allegedly well known within the department that Grady and Brimacombe didn't take kindly to criticism on their leadership decisions, and if they do, they pay the price. 'This is incredibly disturbing,' Greene added. 'This department seems to be fostering a culture of fear and isolation, which is extremely harmful in such a high stress career.' Greene asked Grady why retaliation was the running theme in some of the responses if he was working to mend bridges and communicating with his troopers about their concerns. Grady again leaned on his commitment to hearing officers out and said again that he believed those comments did not represent that majority of the department. The director also defended Brimacombe and his decision to elevate her, noting that she has 25 years of experience with the department and a law degree. Greene asked him if she thought the results of the surveys were fabricated. Grady did not directly respond, but did say there appeared to be copycat or repeated similar responses. State Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon) said it was his understanding that there were approximately 700 vacant positions within the department and that 500 of them are at the trooper level. Snyder worked that out to be a 20% vacancy rate, which he said was exceedingly high. Grady said the department had over the last 10 years hired nearly 1,000 troopers, leading the nation in hiring among state police organizations. He also noted that the department has an aggressive recruiting plan. But DeBoyer later countered by saying that morale continues to dip and then turned to question Grady about reports of doxing within the department. The names of some of the troopers and command officers who were deposed during recent closed-door hearings of the House Oversight Committee were reported by the Detroit Free Press ahead of Tuesday's hearing. DeBoyer said that revelation was appalling, and grilled Grady about how and why someone within the department who was familiar with those discussions leaked that information to the press. The chair as 'That is doxing people within your organization, people who we have asked to communicate with us in private … in fairness and openness and transparency with others members of our committee,' DeBoyer said. 'And this morning, in the media, we read three names that only your agency had. That's inexcusable. … The fact that someone in your agency would dox their own members, Colonel, that is a clear demonstration of why there's a lack of confidence in leadership at Michigan State Police, because at all costs, they will protect themselves and they will sacrifice their members.' While DeBoyer called for an investigation, Grady said he wasn't aware of that leak and would look into it. Following testimony, Grady spoke to reporters and said he thought the committee hearing was generally unfair and that he was proud of the job that he was doing. 'I'm not the type of Colonel that doesn't make himself available or accessible. I'll talk to anybody, and so I have those conversations, and they're positive,' Grady said of his outreach to troopers. 'People enjoy working for the State Police. That's why, when we do have vacancies, they don't last long. They don't remain vacant, because people apply to the positions they want to work here in this department. People want to be state troopers.'
Tom's Guide
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
This tense spy thriller show just crashed the Prime Video top 10 — and it's inspired by a '70s classic
Looks like plenty of Prime Video subscribers are getting hooked on a tense spy thriller from the previous decade, as "Condor" has climbed into the streaming service's most-watched list. Similar to 2024's excellent thriller, "The Day of the Jackal," "Condor" is a fresh spin on another classic '70s thriller, "Six Days of the Condor" by James Grady (which was subsequently turned into Sydney Pollack's "Three Days of the Condor" movie, which starred Robert Redford). The series originally premiered on AT&T's Audience Network back in 2018 and was subsequently picked up by Epix (now MGM Plus), with the second season premiering on the streamer in 2021. Both seasons are also available on Prime Video and are proving popular at present. At the time of writing, "Condor" is currently sitting in ninth place in Prime Video's top 10 shows chart. And given that the chart is currently dominated by Prime Video Originals like "Reacher," "The Better Sister" and "The Summer I Turned Pretty," that's pretty impressive for a 7-year-old show. If you're a thriller fan and you happen to be on the hunt for a new show, you can find out a little more info about the series below, and a round-up of what viewers have to say to help you decide whether to stream "Condor" on Prime Video. "Condor" sees us heading along for the ride with Joe Turner (Max Irons), a brilliant low-level CIA analyst who joined the agency with the hope of reforming it from the inside. When Joe stumbles upon a secret plan that threatens the lives of millions, he finds himself in the crosshairs. After narrowly dodging the killers who take out everyone else at his office, Joe ends up on the run, striving to get to the bottom of what's really going in... while dodging assassins and whatever the agency throws at him in the process. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. In addition to Irons, "Condor" also stars William Hurt, Sam McCarthy Jr., Leem Lubany, Kristen Hager, Bob Balaban, Brendan Fraser, Mira Sorvino and Katherine Cunningham, among others "Condor" comes reasonably well recommended by viewers. At the time of writing, the first season holds an 87% rating on the review aggregate site, Rotten Tomatoes, with a slightly lower 79% score on the Popcornmeter. The site's critical consensus reads: "'Condor' never aspires to be a realistic depiction of spy games -- instead, it excels at evoking a uniquely 21st century brand of paranoia with its slick concept and propulsive pacing." Looking for specific reactions? Well, IndieWire's Ben Travers called the show "a smartly expanded adaptation" back in 2018. He wrote that it isn't a "drop everything and subscribe to DirecTV" kind of show, but it is an engaging spy story suitably updated for modern times and slyly incorporating elements of the original film." Vulture critic Matt Zoller Seitz dubbed the show "an honorable effort" (though one lacking some of the thrills of the Redford movie), describing it as "something along the lines of "Homeland" with a touch of Tom Clancy: a workplace drama, essentially, in which bureaucrats, military personnel, analysts, and spies get tangled up in an international conspiracy." Finally, The Washington Post's Hank Stuever spun the series as "quite the little pulse-pounder — the sort of thing '24' fans can eat with a spoon," praising the show's supporting cast for "lift[ing] this story into a taut choice for summer viewing." Having only just checked the show out myself now that it's picked up steam on Prime Video, I wouldn't want to offer a definitive verdict just yet, but as a fan of thrillers of this ilk, I'm certainly intrigued by Joe's plight, and it feels like a show I'd want to make time for. If you enjoy this kind of taut spy thriller, shows where innocent agents are left high and dry and caught in life-or-death situations, you might want to follow in the footsteps of other Prime users and stream "Condor" on Prime Video, too. Already streamed it "Condor," or not sure it's right for you? Check out our round-up of the best shows on Prime Video for tons more top streaming recommendations worthy of a spot on your watchlist.
Reuters
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
No gears, no brakes, Formula Fixed out to fast-forward U.S. cycling
May 12 (Reuters) - In the fluorescent glow of a re-purposed indoor go-kart track, cyclists hurtle around hairpin corners, their fixed-gear bikes offering a stark binary choice: perfect execution or intimate acquaintance with the barriers. Welcome to the world of Formula Fixed, a new adrenaline-fuelled cycling format organisers believe can finally give the two-wheeled sport the street-cred it lacks in the United States. "There are no real professional leagues that have cohesive storytelling and that's a shame, it's frustrating. So we're setting out to fix that," James Grady, co-founder of the venture with wife Clare, told Reuters. "94 percent of people in the States know how to ride a bike, but the sport's ability to convert that familiarity into fandom is fundamentally broken." Formula Fixed, which launched its inaugural Pro Series later this year, is cycling stripped back to the raw. No gears, no brakes, just leg-pumping action that fuses messenger culture, video game aesthetics and athletic prowess. Unlike traditional formats, whether road racing or track, fans and TV audiences of Formula Fixed won't need to be cycling aficionados to follow what's going on. "We're not here to tweak the old model," James says. "We're here to tear it down and rebuild it from scratch with culture, inclusivity, and energy at the core." The Gradys have been putting on events for more than a decade, including the Mission Crit in San Francisco -- a popular Criterium race around the city streets. Formula Fixed has evolved that format for retro-fitted arenas where fans can watch 100% of the action without having to move from their seat. "Mission Crit was getting more and more riders and more and more spectators, but it was hard to monetise because there's no front door," Clare says. "Fans at city crit races see maybe 10% of the action. I wouldn't want to pay for that." James says in the crowded sports landscape, spectators demand a more immersive experience, pointing to the popularity of golf's arena-based TGL and basketball's Unrivaled. Attempts to revolutionise cycling have been made before. The National Cycling League (NCL) with city-based franchise teams and celebrity-investments was launched a few years ago but soon ran into trouble and collapsed. The Gradys feel they have found the perfect recipe though and judging by a sold-out showcase event last year in California that was backed by brands such as Red Bull and Rapha and generated 5.6 million digital impressions, they may be right. "Whether you're in-venue, watching on-screen, or on your phone, you're going to feel the speed, the energy, and the emotion of every corner and crash," Clare says. The series will predominantly attract those from America's fixed-gear bike messenger scene rather than WorldTour pros, but the door is wide open for international competitors. "The key is it will really resonate with American audiences," James says. Formula Fixed will launch with two two-day qualifying events in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and San Francisco in September with the best male and female riders competing in a 2026 Pro Series.
