Leaders in the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety are warning of increasing danger to the public if OHP isn’t properly funded next year. The main issue for the OHP is staffing levels.
“The fact is Oklahoma’s population has increased 18% since 1995 to nearly four million residents, however since 2010, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has only been able to commission 144 new troopers to replace 181 troopers who left service due to normal attrition,” said OHP trooper Keith Barenberg, President of the Oklahoma State Troopers Association. “Oklahoma relies on less than 800 troopers to serve the needs of all 77 counties, and due to lack of funding the OHP cannot increase its workforce or maintain current strength.”
Barenberg notes that today’s staffing level is close to those more than 20 years ago when the population was smaller.
“Today, we have 786 troopers on the job which mirrors the number of troopers on duty in 1995, yet the state’s population has increased dramatically. While the legislature did partially fund a much-needed trooper salary increase in FY-14, they did not fund a trooper academy in FY-16, and doing so again in FY-17 could have catastrophic results to Oklahoma citizens, visitors and troopers. Currently, 26% of troopers are eligible to retire with 128 troopers having over 25 years of service and another 71 troopers having over 20 years of service. In addition, 28 OHP troopers are currently off duty recovering from violent encounters with the public or other work-related injuries.”
The Commissioner of Public Safety Michael Thompson contends if OHP staffing levels continue to dwindle because of budget cuts, the danger is shifted to the public.
“A shrinking OHP workforce will increase risk and potentially endanger the public. Troopers accept risk as part of their unwavering commitment to Oklahoma, the public should not have to. The grim reality is, the longer the public waits on the side of the road (regardless of the reason) for a trooper to arrive increases their chances of being struck and seriously injured or killed by a distracted or impaired driver. An undersized and fatigued workforce also places troopers in situations where no backup is available,” said Thompson.
Thompson said budget cuts make it impossible for OHP to keep up with the demands of law enforcement.
“According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the daily vehicle miles traveled (DVMT) in Oklahoma has increased from 61,000 DVMT in 1995 to 78,000 in 2015, an increase of over 26%. Vehicles registered in Oklahoma have increased 21% over the same time period to over four million. The OHP is not keeping pace with adequate growth. Oklahoma has pressing needs and cannot afford to jeopardize the public safety of our citizens. In terms of essential priorities, public safety is a core function of government. For the sake of people who live and work in Oklahoma, it is imperative the Department of Public Safety is sufficiently funded to hire, train and equip troopers in FY-17.”
Barenberg simply wants state leaders to remember that OHP is a vital part of public safety in Oklahoma.
“With over 112,000 miles of city, county and state roads and highways, over 600 miles of turnpikes and over 4,300 miles of shoreline to patrol, the OHP is stretched beyond what is considered safe for the public. I urge the legislature and Governor Fallin to protect the safety of the public and troopers by holding OHP harmless from further budget cuts.”
I hope their budget is reduced more since the trooper’s association does not support the right to bear (carry) firearms.
Do away with the road pirates . They are violators of our constitutional rights , They are over paid to ride rough shod over the citizens .