Upper Peninsula, Michigan. The Michigan State Police (MSP) is pleased to announce the
promotion of Detective Sergeant Matthew LaBonte to Detective Lieutenant, where he will
oversee the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET).
The Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics
task force serving all 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Its mission is to reduce the
impact of illegal drugs through enforcement, education, and community awareness.
UPSET works closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate and
disrupt the use, distribution, and sale of illegal narcotics throughout the Upper Peninsula. In
addition to their role completing criminal drug investigations, UPSET also helps keep Upper
Peninsula communities safer by working to prevent drug-related crime and educate the public
about the dangers of narcotics.
D/Lieutenant LaBonte will oversee the operations of the task force throughout the Upper
Peninsula. He brings extensive experience in narcotics enforcement and task force operations,
including having previously served as a detective sergeant assigned to UPSET.
D/Lieutenant LaBonte enlisted with the MSP in 2000 and graduated as a member of the 119th
Trooper Recruit School. During his career, he has served at the Reed City Post, Gladstone
Post, and UPSET. He is also a former member of the MSP Emergency Support Team and has
served in the ranks of trooper, sergeant, detective sergeant, and now detective lieutenant.
D/Lieutenant LaBonte graduated from Escanaba High School and earned a bachelor’s degree
from Northern Michigan University.
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