State trooper shortage

The Georgia State Patrol — like several other highway patrols nationwide — can’t fill its trooper rolls, and not necessarily because of a lack of money.

Even if the Georgia General Assembly budgeted enough money to fill all 953 positions, the department still would have trouble attracting enough people to its ranks, State Patrol spokesman Paul Cosper said.

“I don’t think (the budget) is the only factor,” Lt. Cosper said. “A lot of people are doing other things. It’s hard for law enforcement to find qualified people who want to do law enforcement.”

Having fewer troopers means those who are working often are busier and have less time to respond to calls and protect residents, said Sgt. Mike Edes, president of the National Troopers Coalition, an organization of 45,000 members, and head of the Maine State Troopers Association.

“You answer so many calls, you cover such a big, huge area, and sometimes you don’t have the satisfaction of getting the job done because you’re so far stretched,” Sgt. Edes said. “It wears on you.”

A recent study by USA Today found that a dozen highway patrols across the nation had fewer troopers in 2008 than they did in 1995.

In 1995, Georgia had about 880 troopers, according to the study, compared with 788 last year at this time. From 1995 to 2008, the population increased 33.3 percent, records show.

The state’s 2008 population was estimated to be slightly more than 9.6 million, which means about 8.4 troopers per 100,000 residents.

The highway patrol has 804 troopers now. A new crop of recruits will graduate from the department’s academy in February and is expected to boost that number to 835.

“It’s been years and years since we’ve ever been at 953,” Lt. Cosper said.

Sergeants strategically schedule troopers so there are no gaps in service, he said. And the department is used to operating at less than full strength, because it’s been under a hiring freeze since earlier this year, he said.

“I don’t think the motoring public will notice,” Lt. Cosper said.

Sgt. Edes said burnout — as well as better pay at bigger departments — causes troopers to leave highway patrols.

He said he doesn’t expect to see major increases in trooper numbers unless politicians and the public demand that state governments stop cutting public safety budgets.

Tennessee was not one of the dozen of states named in the USA Today study. The number of Tennessee state troopers increased 18.8 percent during the last 13 years, while its population increased 16.9 percent. There were 931 troopers last year, according to the study.

The state’s 2008 population was estimated at about 6.2 million, which means about 15 troopers per 100,000 residents.

Tennessee Highway Patrol Col. Mike Walker has made it a priority to keep and add troopers, spokesman Mike Browning said. When budgets are trimmed, the department reduces management staff or other programs, not troopers, he said.

“That’s the first line of defense in supporting our mission, which is highway safety,” Mr. Browning said.