State Trooper Shortage

(WCBI)—The Mississippi Highway Patrol says it remains stretched thin but continues to make sure drivers see troopers on state roads this holiday weekend.

Staffing is close to an all-time low at the agency.  Now, 48  Highway Patrolmen graduated from trooper academy in 2015.

However, 66 troopers have left since then. Right now, 150 highway patrolmen could retire if they chose to do so.

Lawmakers raised trooper pay last year, but MHP is still having difficulty competing with other states and federal agencies, where pay is higher.