I forgot to post my response from the guy with Ingham county...
Major Joel Maatman, Staff Services Admin:
Reference your earlier email to the sheriff. As to the training question you posed the Sheriff, about a year ago we were made away of this issue via the Lansing Police and MSP and at least one call on open carry in a resturant (which I believe our officers handled properly). We annually traing our deputies on legal update and have since trained them on the law concerning open carry and the sheriff feels, as I do, very comfortable in our application of the law. As every call or situation is different, concerning applying any state law, we as an orgainzation don't give out legal opinons per se. I would suggest you pose your legal questions to the Ingham County Prosecutor's office, as they would be the ultimate decision makers in all of Ingham County concerning the application of this issue with several law enforcement agencies in Ingham County. I hope this helps answer your questions.
I also contacted Eaton county... Under Sheriff McPhail...
Sheriff, & Undersheriff,
I wanted to touch base with you quickly ask a question. What is your position regarding openly carried firearms? I also wanted to see if there had been any recent training with the patrol officers to ensure that there were no misunderstandings of Michigan law.
I have taken the liberty to include a recent LPD memo regarding this issue, as well as the MSP legal update 86. I would venture a guess the Sheriff would be aware of these already, but just in case I included them. I also assume the Sheriff is familiar with state law on the matter, though I would be happy to provide citations as requested.
Additionally, it should be noted that the Chief of the Detroit PD (Ralph Godbee) announced this week that the DPD acknowledges the legality of OC (and that it has been legal for some time) and that OCers will will not be arrested or even stopped at all by DPD at the Downtown Hoedown free outdoor concert in a public Detroit Park. (or anywhere in Detroit) Initially Commander Williams of the DPD said OCers would be arrested on sight but fortunately the Chief was able to see that State Law makes OC legal.
I understand that you can't speak for other departments and likewise they cannot speak for your department, thus my questions.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
McPhail's Response:
Thanks for the information, I’ll pass it on to our training officer to ensure we’re up to date. I can’t recall of any issues our deputies have encountered over this like they have in Lansing. Sheriff Raines and I are Constitutionalists and support the Second Amendment and certainly the law.
It seems that open carry advocates could find a better way to make their point rather than capturing all the negative publicity they’ve gotten lately. The way the media has portrayed the controversy shines a negative light on the O.C. proponents, which is too bad .