A 21-year veteran of the Michigan State Police is poised to take the reins at the department’s Paw Paw Post in the form of newly promoted First Lieutenant Scott Ernstes.
Ernstes has been promoted from Detective Sgt to First Lieutenant and drawn the assignment at the Paw Paw Post to fill the post commander position recently vacated by the retirement of F/Lt. Angel Ouwinga.
As post commander, Ernstes will be responsible for the operation of the Paw Paw Post and will manage the delivery of Michigan State Police services to the people of Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties.
Ernstes enlisted with the department in 2000 and graduated as a member of the 119th Trooper Recruit School. Over the course of his 21-year career, Ernstes has served at the Wayland Post, the Allegan Cold Case Team, at the Michigan State Police Training Academy, and currently at the Paw Paw Post. He has held the ranks of Trooper, Detective Trooper, Sergeant, and Detective Sergeant.
Ernstes is originally from the community of Paw Paw where he graduated in 1996 from Paw Paw High School. He holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Western Michigan University and currently resides in Kalamazoo with his wife and two children. He is presently serving as acting post commander at the Paw Paw Post until his duty starts this weekend.
When asked about his new assignment at the Paw Paw Post and his plans for the post and community D/Sgt. Ernstes said, “I am so excited to work with our dedicated law enforcement partners in Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties in my new capacity as the MSP Paw Paw Post Commander. I grew up in Paw Paw and have spent my entire life in Southwest Michigan. I am vested in the community and committed to ensuring we all strive to meet the expectation of exemplary service.” Ernstes concludes, “I am also looking forward to the challenge of developing innovative ways to further build relationships between law enforcement and the citizens we are dedicated to serve.”
His promotion is effective this Sunday, March 7th.
