Like much of the Upper Peninsula, Alger County is a place of incredible natural beauty, home to attractions such as Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Laughing Whitefish Falls. With a population of nearly 9,000 people as well as 5,048 square miles of land, the county is served by a diverse group of law enforcement agencies that work hard to coordinate efforts to keep both residents and visitors safe.
These agencies include the Michigan State Police (MSP), Munising City Police, the Alger County Sheriff’s Office, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Law Enforcement, the U.S. Forest Service, Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and tribal law enforcement for the Sault Tribe, who police tribal lands.
Trooper Thomas Kinnunen of the Michigan State Police explains that though these agencies have different areas of focus and expertise, they’re united by one shared mission: public safety.
The distinctions can be noted by the areas in which the agencies focus their efforts.
“The MSP and the DNR, for instance, both have statewide authority,” Kinnunen said. “The difference is that the DNR focuses more on conservation, enforcing laws around hunting, fishing and outdoor activities, while we handle a broader range of criminal investigations and traffic safety.”
Kinnunen also noted that while the MSP and the Alger County Sheriff’s Office both have specialized equipment for dealing with water-based incidents, including dive teams, the Sheriff’s Office “tends to handle more snowmobile-related issues because they have specific snowmobile units; but we all share resources like drones and aircraft when needed.”
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Law Enforcement officers work collaboratively with the MSP, DNR, Alger County Sheriff’s Office and the Munising City Police, sharing jurisdiction to enforce rules and regulations within the park. Additionally, federal agencies such as the National Park Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the FBI and U.S. Fish & Wildlife can play important roles in community policing, safety and crime-solving when needed.
The 22 sworn law enforcement officers of the Sault Tribe serve tribal communities by enforcing tribal conservation laws, acting as the treaty licensing entity for the tribe and overseeing the operation and administration of the Sault Tribe Youth Facility.
The Michigan State Police has a variety of specialty units within the organization. “We’ve got a lot of subgroups that go beyond everyday policing,” Kinnunen said. These teams — such as the Tactical Bike Team, the Computer Crimes Unit, the Emergency Support Team (SWAT), the K-9 Unit, fire investigators and the bomb squad — provide critical support for more complex investigations and areas of concern. Additionally, roles like Kinnunen’s community service position, as well as forensic scientists, polygraph examiners and detectives, are integral to the ongoing success of the MSP.
Jurisdiction plays a big part in determining what each agency handles. Munising City Police typically operates within the city limits; the Sheriff’s Office covers all of Alger County; and the MSP functions statewide.
And while law enforcement agencies are there to keep the public safe, it’s important to remember they’re made up of real people. “We’re people, too. This is our job, and we’re doing our best,” Kinnunen said. “We have families, we make mistakes and we try hard. A mentor once told me to treat everyone like family — so that’s what I strive to do every day.”
