COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - 78 recruits are graduating today into the ranks of the Michigan State Police with four of the new troopers headed to Coldwater to beef up the local post presence. Also, one of the graduates is a former Coldwater City Police officer, David Pipe, who is being assigned to the Rockford Post.

The new graduates will boost the number of troopers statewide to 965. That compares to the high point for the Michigan State Police, reached 11 years ago when there were 1,344 troopers. The next recruit school begins at the end of this month with both schools funded through Governor Snyder’s public safety plan unveiled in March.

It’s hoped the new troopers can reinforce some of the communities around the state that have been seeing a reduction in their local law enforcement numbers.