New Gladstone Post Commander

One of the Michigan State Police posts in the Upper Peninsula has a new post commander.

First Lt. Gregory Cunningham has served as the commander of the Gladstone Post for several weeks now.

Prior to his new assignment, Lt. Cunningham had been the commander of the Iron Mountain Post since August.

His predecessor, William Smith, was demoted from the post commander position in early November.

Last July, Smith was arrested in Sault Ste. Marie for operating while intoxicated.

The case was dismissed because the warrant for Smith’s blood alcohol test was signed by a former court magistrate who was no longer authorized to sign it.

However, the misdemeanor drunk driving charge has since been re-filed.

The case has a motions hearing in 91st District Court in Sault Ste. Marie on January 22nd.

Alger County Prosecuting Attorney Karen Bahrman is being brought in as a special prosecutor.

After an internal investigation, the State Police demoted Smith from lieutenant to sergeant, suspended him for 15 days without pay and re-assigned him to the Lansing Post.