Negaunee MSP welcome three new troopers

Three new Michigan State troopers have joined the ranks at M.S.P.'s Negaunee post.

In his keynote speech, Governor Rick Snyder said the men and women graduating were choosing a very rewarding career, and thanked them for dedicating their lives to serving and protecting the citizens of Michigan.

The three troopers just assigned to the Negaunee post recently finished a 26 week training period with 160 other recruits.

Compared to other jobs, troopers do not apply to a position, they are assigned.

"You do get an option in the academy to kind of get a wish list we'll say, so you know we have 30 posts within the state, so you get to pick one through 30 where you prefer to be posted in hopes that you kind of get close to your number one or in your top ten," Negaunee M.S.P. trooper Shane Hauff said.

Hauff said their assignments are also based on their performance during training, for example, Hauff received his class's team building award.

Hauff said he already loves the community, and looks forward to working with the Marquette area community.

"My wife and I both attended Northern Michigan University, in 2006, 2007 for myself and my wife graduated in 2009," Hauff said.

Another trooper joining the Negaunee post is also familiar with the area.

"Once I got into college I studied criminal justice," Negaunee M.S.P. trooper Lucas Lahnala said. "I went to Northern Michigan University for two years but first of all I went to Finlandia University for two years."

Hauff said, Michigan State Police do more than simply road patrols.

"We have such a huge diverse set of things that we do you're not just locked down to being a trooper on the road you can go off and be on our S.W.A.T. team or E.S. team you can do special investigations, be a detective, crime lab," Hauff said.

"I always wanted to be a, maybe one day work undercover or something or, who knows I'm not entirely sure I just want to be the best trooper I can right now," Lahnala said. "I came here with a good group of people, great group of guys here, guys and gals."