Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
TROOPER JOHN Kelly, of the Michigan State Police Wakefield Post, stands outside the post. Kelly joined the post on Aug. 30 after more than 10 years as a trooper downstate.
WAKEFIELD - After more than 10 years as a trooper at a Michigan State Police post in Hart, trooper John Kelly made a change, traveling nearly 400 miles north to Wakefield.
On Aug. 30, Kelly became a trooper with the MSP Wakefield Post. He returned to the Upper Peninsula after working at Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco before joining MSP.
"When I initially got hired with the Michigan State Police, there were no openings in the U.P.," Kelly said. "I had family in the Bessemer area, and my wife (Jessica Hoeft) is from the area, so the move back is nice."
The biggest difference facing Kelly in his new post is the different sizes in the communities.
"It's much smaller here, and more rural, and the orientation to the area is more spread out, so it takes more time," Kelly said. "But knowing people in the community makes it more helpful. ... I also have had some specialized training, so that could be helpful."
Kelly enjoys the outdoors and said it's "a nice area to raise a family."
