Gov. Whitmer names 25-year veteran of Michigan State Police as its new commander
LANSING — The new commander of the Michigan State Police is a 25-year veteran of the agency who started as a trooper and rose through the ranks, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday.
Capt. James Grady succeeds Col. Joe Gasper, who is retiring. Grady has also been promoted to the rank of colonel, effective Thursday, Whitmer said in a news release.
Grady currently heads the MSP training division. He took over that role in 2020, when he was promoted to captain.
He joined the MSP as a trooper in 1998, serving in Adrian and Detroit posts and working his way up to detective and supervisor in local posts.
In 2015, he became detective first lieutenant and section commander of the Fraud Investigation team. In 2018, he was promoted to assistant division commander in the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. In this role, he also served as a liaison to the governor’s office, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security.
“Capt. Grady is the right pick to lead the brave men and women of the Michigan State Police,” Whitmer said in the news release.
"He has earned the respect of troopers across the department and community leaders throughout the state, including in southeast Michigan where he spent the majority of his service. He has a knack for bringing everyone together to solve problems, and our state is a better place for it.”
Grady takes over as the MSP continues to try to improve its diversity and make the largely white male agency more representative of the communities it polices. Grady is the third Black commander of the MSP. Col Tadarial Sturdivant was first, serving as director from 2003 to 2006. Col. Eddie Washington was second. He directed the MSP from 2010 to 2011.
Grady, a resident of Wayne County, said he is honored by the appointment. "I will work every day to earn the trust and respect of my colleagues and the good people of Michigan," he said.
Grady has a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice and criminology from Eastern Michigan University and is currently working toward a Master of Business Administration from Cleary University with expected completion in 2025.
The appointment is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @paulegan4.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gov. Whitmer names 25-year veteran of MSP as its new commander
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