LANSING, Mich. — Michigan DNR officers say holidays like the Fourth of July are becoming too dangerous.
This week more than 300 Michigan DNR officers filed an official complaint with the state. Ken Moore is President of Michigan State Employees Association and he represents those officers.
"Alcohol abuse is rampant, the drugs, the marijuana, all of those elements, the inner city activities but what is most alarming is the disrespect for my park officers and my park staff," says Moore.
Moore points to an incident in Grand Haven on July 3rd of last year when the park had to be shut down after multiple fights took place.
"They were rioting, they were disregarding, it was the abuse of the alcohol and it blew up to a point where it was out of control," says Moore.
Moore has filed an official complaint with the state on behalf of the DNR officers but says he has not received a response.
"It frustrates me. I know that my membership whether they be a park officer or a conservation officer, they're providing law enforcement for the state of Michigan," says Moore.
He's also frustrated because DNR officers are not issued a sidearm, taser or soft body armor.
"The department of DNR and the parks and rec are not providing sufficient equipment, I have 22 officers that have purchased their own equipment on a minimal salary and I think that's shameful," says Moore.
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