Michigan State Police are responding to a federal lawsuit filed by Sarah Krebs, a 25-year veteran of the department and former chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Krebs alleges years of retaliation, discrimination, and harassment by the Michigan State Police and its top leader, Colonel James Grady, according to the 45-page lawsuit.
Krebs founded Missing in Michigan, an event that brings family members and law enforcement together to solve missing person cases. She also served as the Amber Alert coordinator and worked as a forensic artist helping identify numerous wanted persons.
Her complaint states, “MSP frequently prioritized advancing DEI initiatives without regard for the qualifications of those who were applying, thereby hurting the agency and decimating the morale of the agents and troopers.”
Krebs says after raising concerns, she was ordered to “remove all references to recruiting and selection” from her job description and later “moved from her office…to a cubicle…an obvious retaliatory measure.”
The lawsuit also claims she endured “lifelong mental trauma” and “severe emotional distress” due to a pattern of harassment and retaliation.
It details a 2024 incident at a leadership conference where Krebs says a male lieutenant “forcibly kissed her in front of other agency members.”
After reporting the incident, the suit alleges MSP retaliated, “by launching multiple internal investigations into her conduct and removing her from her DEI post.”
Krebs further accuses Colonel Grady and other top officials of bypassing hiring laws and “hand-picking every captain position.”
The lawsuit alleges Grady said he wanted the “right 15” in command, a reference Krebs claims was about race-based promotion decisions.
She is seeking lost wages, compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages for “emotional distress, humiliation and embarrassment.”
Michigan State Police said all state departments are required to follow Civil Service Rules and federal law when it comes to hiring practices and that, “the allegation regarding the selection process for the Training Division Commander was thoroughly investigated and closed as not sustained.”
A finding of “not sustained” means the investigation did not provide sufficient facts to prove or disprove the allegations against Colonel Grady.