The Michigan Senate is now considering a bill to expand the background checks done on prospective police officers in Michigan. State Senator Rick Jones, of Grand Ledge is a former sheriff and the bill’s sponsor. He tells WKZO News the plan has the backing of law enforcement agencies in Michigan.
“I speak to chiefs of police and other sheriffs and they all want the best candidates possible, and they certainly want a full background check,” Jones said.
Currently, the rule set for the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards only allows for an applicant’s criminal record within the state of Michigan to be checked. Jones says that means someone with felony convictions in another state could come to Michigan and become a police officer. His bill would allow MCOLES to have the Michigan State Police conduct fingerprint checks through the MSP and FBI systems on academy applicants.
