IRON COUNTY -- More than four state police posts will be closing in the U.P. including the Iron River post.  But fewer posts will not mean fewer troopers.
 
In an effort to save more than $17 million, the Michigan State Police are closing more than 30 posts across the state including at least five in the Upper Peninsula which include, L'Anse, Munising, Stephenson, Manistique, and Iron River.
    
Iron County Sheriff Mark Valesano says the partnership between his department and the state police in Iron River needs to remain strong.
    
"The main thing that we would like to see is boots on the ground here in Iron County," explains Valesano.  "We have a large county, a large geographical area to cover, and we do the job together."
    
But according to Michigan State Police Lieutenant Greg Cunningham, the changes should be an improvement for Iron County.  Despite the closing of the Iron River Post, Lieutenant Cunningham says the state police will actually have a stronger presence in Iron County than they do right now.
    
"With the regional policing plan, the way it is set up, you're going to see an increase, not a decrease, in the involvement of the troopers and the visibility of the troopers in Iron County," said Cunningham.

Currently there are four troopers stationed in Iron River and six in Iron Mountain.
    
But when the Iron River post closes, there will be 12 troopers at the Iron Mountain post with six of them focusing on Iron County.
    
The state police will also have a detachment office in Caspian.
    
"It's crucial that we provide the best public safety we can with the number of personnel that we have, and with this new regional policing plan, we're able to use flexibility of the schedules and get those troopers to remain in the areas where they are," Cunningham added.
    
The new plan is expected to take effect later this year.