Promises are made to be kept. 

Devon and Demontray Horton of Eastpointe kept the promise they made to Michigan State Police troopers seven years ago following an unplanned basketball game on Detroit’s east side.

MSP Third District Commander Capt. Greg Morenko was among the near-dozen troopers-turned-athletes who asked to join the youth for a quick game of hoops in 2017. The MSP triumphed in the first round. When they returned weeks later, the vibrant preteens demanded a rematch, but the troopers didn’t arrive empty-handed: they brought a new outdoor basketball rim and some barbecue. And this time, they were outscored.

But another play was issued to the siblings before the troopers sidelined from the matchup. 

“I remember (Morenko) making the boys promise him they would finish high school,” their mother, Crystal Horton, said. “So, a few weeks ago, I reached out to let him know they both graduated this year, not knowing if the captain had the same number.”

Since 2011, the MSP has been engaged in ongoing efforts to connect with communities in partnership with local police agencies and community groups across Michigan. During the summer of 2024, an inaugural initiative dubbed Troopers on Tour provided free events in Inkster, Saginaw and Lansing. These events offered a mix of food, music, games and basketball, with the support of the Basketball Cop Foundation, a Gainesville, Florida-based nonprofit that fosters positive connections between police officers and residents.

“Those serendipitous relationship formations are unforgettable to the public,” Morenko said. “They also mean a lot to law enforcement,” he added.

“It’s the definition of those authentic connections — that’s what this is,” he said. “Did I expect the follow-up from 2017? Not at all, but that was one of the best text messages I’ve ever received.”

Devon and Demontray, ages 18 and 19, respectively, earned diplomas from Community High School in Sterling Heights on May 28. 

To commend their academic accomplishments, Morenko invited them and their parents to tour the MSP Training Academy in Dimondale on a recent weekday. They learned about civilian roles and enlisted specialty assignments like the Aviation Unit. They also took laps with instructors around the Precision Driving Facility, underwent a virtual reality simulation and engaged in first-aid demonstrations. 

“We were excited about coming because we wanted to learn more about the MSP, what the job is like and how opportunities offered through the department could affect us in the future,” Demontray said. “Kids these days don’t realize what opportunities are out there until they’re shared with them, and I’m glad we got the chance to see what the MSP is about. I’m glad the captain never forgot about us.” 

For Devon, the interaction with MSP members on the court changed his perception of policing. When the troopers approached him and his brother during the first basketball game, he said it was initially off-putting because “we thought we were in trouble.” But they learned that the police were ordinary people.

Rekindling years after relationships are formed “means a lot because we rarely see the back end of those kinds of interactions,” Morenko said. He described engaging with youth positively as “the right thing to do.”

Sgt. DiJon Ware, commander of the MSP 147th Trooper Recruit School, hosted the Training Academy tour and said it’s “humbling and a good feeling overall” to provide opportunities for youth to reimagine their potential career options.

Whether Devon and Demontray pursue law enforcement careers or not, Morenko said, “there’s always time for a follow-up game because ’I’m not afraid of the hoops,’” he joked.

Asked about a potential tiebreaking opportunity on the court, the Horton brothers responded: “No, but he should be afraid of us!”

In less than one week, Kim Dowling went from carefree to cancer patient. At 37-years-old, with a lump in her breast she initially wanted to ignore, Dowling was about to begin the fight of her life.

“My husband pushed me to see my doctor who then sent me for my first mammogram ‘just in case’,” said Dowling, who works as a photographer for the Michigan State Police (MSP). “I went by myself on a Friday and by Monday afternoon, I found out I had two completely different, aggressive tumors – one hormone positive and one HER2 triple positive. By the end of the week, I had already meet with an oncologist, radiologist, surgeon, plastic surgeon and geneticist.”

When coworkers learned of her diagnosis, Cindy Homant, a technology specialist assigned to the State 911 Office, was one of the first to reach out. She knew even just reaching out could be comforting. Cancer was prevalent in Homant’s family, and she was diagnosed with colon cancer even after genetic testing showed no markers or DNA sequences that would point to an inherited illness. Homant finished treatment in 2018 and has positively progressed to yearly CAT scans.

“The mental aspect sticks with you even after treatment ends,” said Homant. “I choose to remain as optimistic as I could. Everyone reacts to treatment differently and while you can’t compare your experience to someone else’s, a few words of support do make a difference.”

The pair knew coworkers were facing similar situations, so they formed the “No One Fights Alone” or NOFA cancer and tumor support group. The first meeting was held in September.

“Our hope is to provide a listening ear and safe space for MSP members to talk about cancer, both for those facing it and others who want to support them,” said Dowling. “The strain of appointments and treatments is significant. We hope to provide awareness to managers and leadership for the success and wellbeing of our employees.”

During October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, NOFA members are collecting chemotherapy care items to donate to patients in active treatment at the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Herbert-Herman Cancer Center and the Karmanos Cancer Institute at McLaren Greater Lansing. 

“Chemotherapy treatments aren’t fun or comfortable, but they were lifesaving for both of us,” Homant said. “We are gathering items that helped us alleviate some of the side effects and push through long days. We want the people who receive the bags to know they are not alone, that we are cheering them on.”

Save the date! Drug Take Back Day is on Saturday, October 26. All MSP posts will be open and serving as collection sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bring your expired, unused or unwanted medications from your home and dispose of them at your local post. Please note patches, syringes or inhalers are not accepted.

If you can’t make it on Drug Take Back Day, all MSP posts accept unwanted pills weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except holidays).

Find a MSP collection site at Michigan.gov/MSPposts.

Thanks for voting for our Blue Goose in the American Association of State Troopers (AAST) Best Looking Cruiser Contest!

The MSP came in 9th place and will be featured in the 2024 calendar, which can be purchased for $10 at statetroopers.org.

Calendar sales benefit the AAST Foundation, which provides educational scholarships to dependents of member troopers.

As Halloween approaches, the excitement of trick-or-treating fills the air. However, we want to ensure that everyone enjoys a safe evening without any unwanted surprises. Discuss these safety tips with your children before they head out for Halloween fun:

• Always walk on sidewalks or designated paths. If there are no sidewalks available, walk facing traffic, staying as close to the curb as possible. Remember to obey all traffic signs and signals.
• Teach children to stop and look left, right, and left again before crossing any street. Use crosswalks when possible and avoid crossing between parked cars.
• Equip your child with a glow stick or flashlight to help them see and be seen by others. Additionally, decorating costumes and trick-or-treat bags with reflective tape is a great way to increase visibility.
• Put electronic devices down while walking. Keep your head up, stay alert, and walk – don’t run – across streets.
• Make sure costumes fit properly to prevent trips and falls and consider using face paint instead of masks to ensure clear vision.
• If your child is old enough to go trick-or-treating alone, make sure they go with a group of friends. Set a time for them to return home and plan their route ahead of time.

Happy Halloween!