From dream to reality: Local woman graduates from Michigan State Police Recruit School

Published by admin on Thu, 05/09/2019 - 3:00am

By:

Joanie Moore, Contributing Writer

Courtesy photo

Kaitlyn Bielecki

Courtesy photo/MSP

Kaitlyn Bielecki performs an underwater vehicle extrication in the tank during recruit school as part of her training to become a Michigan State Police Trooper.

REGION – A Mancelona woman turned her childhood dreams into reality when she graduated last month from the Michigan State Police 135^th Trooper Recruit School, and became a state trooper.

Kaitlyn Bielecki, a 2012 graduate of Mancelona High School, has always been passionate about law enforcement. Her parents both held careers in the public education field, and her dad also serves with the fire district.

“My dad spent a few years on the sheriff’s reserves,” Bielecki said. “He sparked my original interest in first responders.”

Bielecki recalled going to a conference for women in male-dominated careers when she was in school.

“There was a female K9 trooper who spoke of the competitiveness of the Michigan State Police (MSP) and how much she loved her job,” Bielecki recalled. “Her passion was overflowing and I remember thinking ‘I hope I love my career that much.’”

But her fears as a young woman got in the way of pursuing law enforcement. After high school, Bielecki attended college and was working toward a medical degree. One day she thought to herself, ‘You can’t do this. You won’t be happy with this job.’ It was then that she changed her career path.

“It’s funny,” she said. “When you know, you know.”

Bielecki received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and he graduated with highest honors. As she was finishing her degree, a MSP recruiter contacted her.

“We talked about the department and what MSP has to offer to its members, and what we can do for the department and in the field as troopers,” Bielecki said. “After much research, I knew the state police was for me. I didn’t know how, but I knew I was going to do whatever it took to get in.”

Following a lengthy application process, testing, interviewing, and background check, Bielecki was accepted and reported to recruit school.

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