MHP needs more money or we all suffer: Our view

The fact that law enforcement agencies across Mississippi are generally understaffed and underpaid compared to similar agencies in neighboring states is nothing new, but it is a problem that continues to worsen, which only threatens the safety and security of residents in the Magnolia State.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is a perfect example of the problems facing law enforcement in the state. MHP has a total of approximately 440 officers, which includes the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, driver services and the agency’s administrative leadership. That leaves only 300 troopers spread out in nine districts over the nearly 12,000 miles of highways MHP is responsible for covering.

During holiday seasons when traffic is heavier and the likelihood of drunk drivers is increased — whether that be the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas — the near-record low numbers of troopers makes it difficult for MHP to be as visible in as many places as it needs to be.

"Visibility in itself can be a deterrent," public affairs officer Johnny Poulos said. "If you have a lot of traffic and people know there's going to be an area where law enforcement is going to be out looking for speeders or the distracted drivers, people are going to slow down and be more focused on safe driving."

Over Thanksgiving, MHP officials had to make tough decisions about coverage, so they came up with a clever plan by which they could have the greatest impact on ensuring a safe Thanksgiving period. Since I-55 is Mississippi's most traveled road during the holidays, running the length of the state, MHP had 16 troopers covering 35 miles each along the interstate. Additional troopers manned other state and federal roads as well.

It was a relatively successful program, MHP officials said. The downside, obviously, is that the lack of manpower meant less visibility in other areas — including I-20 and Mississippi 49. And holiday seasons aside, the lack of manpower means slower response times, less enforcement and more stress on existing personnel.

MHP has a few things going for it when it comes to growing its ranks:

• Recruitment has never been an issue. There is a lot of interest in joining their ranks. 
• Mississippi is, by large, extremely supportive of law enforcement, which means a lot to those entering the field.
• MHP has strong training programs that give officers the opportunity to gain and improve skillsets.

So why the low numbers and issues with staffing? The reasons are numerous, varied and not easy to solve:

• MHP is losing a lot of troopers to Texas and Florida, both of which pay more than double what Mississippi pays. A trainee in Texas, for instance, starts at more than $55,000, compared to $18,000 for an MHP trainee. Even worse, troopers in Mississippi don’t hit the $50,000 mark until they reach the rank of staff sergeant and have 16 years of experience on the force. 
• Fatigue and burnout related to understaffing have led to troopers leaving MHP for other law enforcement agencies or to enter a different field.
• State agencies often poach from the MHP ranks because of the level of training troopers receive. 

MHP graduated 48 officers from a trooper school last year. Since that time, 66 troopers have left MHP for a variety of reasons. Making matters worse, approximately 150 troopers are eligible for retirement.

The hiring and training process for new troopers takes time, and it also takes money from the state to conduct trooper schools. This must be a commitment from state leaders for the foreseeable future. However, just holding trooper schools is not going to be enough.

Lawmakers must realize MHP is facing a dire situation when it comes to staffing. And this isn’t an issue that can be blamed on too much administrative cost, inefficient management or some other excuse that provides political cover to kick the can down the road. No government agency or body is perfectly run or without issues — including (and some might argue especially) — the Legislature. But in the case of MHP, the numbers are stark and paint a clear picture.

Nobody should expect Mississippi to be able to pay as much as Texas or Florida pays, but lawmakers must accept that $18,000 is too low for a starting salary today, and working for 16 years before one can earn $50,000 for a job that requires ongoing training and that comes with life-threatening duties every day is far too long.

Yes, it will require money to fix this problem. Many of our problems require money, whether lawmakers or others are willing to publicly admit to as much. But, thankfully, lawmakers can invest in troopers with the assuredness it is a wise investment. It’s the missing piece to a puzzle that already includes strong community support, great interest in joining, exceptional training opportunities and the pride of being able to make a good living working in the places these men and women grew up or want to call home.

The alternative is to continue to watch MHP numbers dwindle as accidents, injuries and fatalities rise. It’s not just troopers who are suffering; it’s the residents of Mississippi who depend on MHP and other law enforcement agencies for a basic service of government — protection and security. Let’s not fail them by refusing to act.