ALPENA — A settlement is reached between retired Michigan State Police Commander Michael Caldwell and the Michigan State Police according to a press release put out by Caldwell’s attorney, James Fett, on Dec. 19.

According to the release, Caldwell, a former sergeant at the Michigan State Police Alpena Post, sued the MSP for violations of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act based on what Caldwell viewed as race and gender preferences in hiring.

Caldwell also sued the MSP for retaliation when he was demoted from captain of the seventh district to inspector in 2019 and reassigned to Lansing for his deposition in a then-ongoing federal lawsuit in the federal court’s western division.

The civil suit was heard in the 44th District Court in Livingston County.

When Caldwell retired in April 2021 after 31 years of service, the MSP informed him that his retirement in good standing would be withheld due to an ongoing internal investigation related to his deposition in the federal lawsuit against MSP citing a policy that prevents members from retiring in good standing if they choose to retire during an internal investigation, even though Caldwell’s retirement date was mandatory due to his participation in the department’s Deferred Retirement Option Program.

MSP further denied Caldwell’s request to remain on active duty to refute the allegations.

The settlement reached between MSP and Caldwell reinstated Caldwell of his captain rank in retirement.

Additionally, the MSP provided official documentation reflecting Caldwell’s retirement in good standing, reissued his retirement ID card at the captain rank, provided him with a retired MSP captain’s badge, a retirement certificate, and all other retirement accouterments and documents historically provided to retired enforcement members.

Caldwell was also compensated an amount equal to the losses he incurred during his demotion from captain to inspector and covered all legal expenses accrued during the federal and state lawsuits combined.