MSP expands Tactical Bike Team ahead of summer event season

LANSING, Mich. (News 10) - Michigan State Police have added 35 members to their Tactical Bike Team, expanding a unit that helps manage crowds at large public events across the state.

Established in 2016, the Tactical Bike Team now consists of 116 troopers and sergeants trained in crowd management and crowd control. The unit is often deployed at events such as festivals, parades, demonstrations and other large gatherings where patrol vehicles are difficult to maneuver.

To join the team, members must complete a weeklong basic bike school that includes training in bicycle skills and maneuvers, patrol techniques, legal issues, community policing and crowd management. Team members also must pass fitness, written and skills tests and complete annual refresher training.

In 2025, the Tactical Bike Team was deployed 56 times to support public safety efforts at community events and special operations throughout Michigan.

“With the start of summer comes the festivals and parades we love here in Michigan,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “Our Tactical Bike Team is a great resource for events where we need to adapt quickly to manage crowds where a patrol car would not be able to go.”

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