78 recruits graduating from Mich. trooper school - WNEM TV 5

Seventy-eight recruits are set to be sworn in as Michigan State Police troopers.

They're to take part in a graduation ceremony Friday at the Lansing Center.

Upon graduation, the new troopers are to be assigned to MSP posts across the state, joining a group that could use the reinforcements.

The state police had 887 troopers as of September. That's the lowest number in decades.

The new hires will push the count to 965 troopers at 29 posts across the state.

MLive.com reports (http://bit.ly/WtT8e6) the high point for Michigan State Police trooper employment was 1,344 in 2001.

The newest troopers successfully completed a boot-camp style course at the Michigan State Police Training Academy in Lansing where they received training in firearms, water safety, defensive tactics and other disciplines.

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