Michigan State Police Lt. Ben Eckola, right, was announced Monday at the new public information officer for the Eighth District, which covers the entire Upper Peninsula. He takes over for Lt. Mark Giannunzio, left, who is retiring from the MSP after 25 years. Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette

NEGAUNEE — The Michigan State Police will have a new public face in the Upper Peninsula.

Lt. Benjamin Eckola was announced Monday as the new public information officer for the Eighth District, which spans the U.P.

The 10-year MSP veteran replaces Lt. Mark Giannunzio, who is retiring after 25 years with the department. Giannunzio had been at the post for four years.

As public information officer, Eckola said, he’ll be able to make a positive difference in the community and positively represent the MSP by getting out accurate information about everything from emergencies to upcoming public events.

“I just see the real benefit of having that resource available for the communities of the U.P., something that I definitely understand is very important,” he said. “And I’m passionate about fostering those good relationships between MSP and the public.”

Eckola’s first post out of recruit school was at the MSP post in Gaylord, where he served as a trooper for five years, eventually earning a promotion to sergeant. He voluntarily transferred to the Sault Ste. Marie post in 2020, where he’s been until his new promotion.

Eckola decided he wanted a career with the MSP when he interned with them as a Lake Superior State University student.

“After seeing the great work that was being done, the real impact on the community that the troopers and the other staff were having, getting to see that day-to-day work and being able to patrol car and investigating crimes and responding to emergencies, it was something that definitely inspired me, that I could definitely see myself doing,” he said.

While the job will have its challenges, Eckola’s looking forward to what’s coming.

“I’m doing whatever I can to help foster those positive relationships in the community, effectively communicate with the public and our media members here in the U.P., and also focus on some departmental needs, like our recruiting aspects or different community outreach events and working with those type of events as well partnering with our personnel throughout the district,” he said.

Unlike Giannunzio, who also served as assistant commander at the post, Eckola will work solely as PIO. He’s been able to watch Giannunzio go about his job — both the day-to-day logistics and the positivity and effective communication he brought to the role.

“Just being able to soak up everything I can from Lt. Giannunzio has definitely been an opportunity I’ve been happy to have,” he said.

Eckola’s looking forward to the role, but he’s expecting to take some extended leave before he settles in. He and his wife are expecting a newborn son as soon as this week.