Ala. State Trooper shortage
A recent study by the University of Alabama’s Center for Advanced Public Safety, which is independent of ALEA and the former Alabama Department of Public Safety, concluded that Alabama should be staffed at a minimum of 1,016 Troopers including field supervisors assigned to patrol the highways of the State of Alabama.
State Trooper Jonathan Appling said the numbers for the agency haven’t been like this in the 79 year history of the Alabama State Troopers.
“We just had our first class come through since 2010,” Appling said. “For the Franklin County area, the Quad-Cities post, there are only 22 troopers serving right now. The study found that there should be 43.”
Appling said many posts are below half of what is recommended and that it is a statewide problem.
“Troopers are working very hard right now and doing what they can with what they have,” Appling said. “But there is no way we can keep up with attrition alone with the way things are going now.”
Appling said that as Troopers retire on schedule it is necessary for them to replenish the ranks with new hires and new graduating classes.
“We are at a critical point right now,” Appling said. “We get plenty of qualified applicants, but we just can’t afford to hire anyone right now.
“The Alabama State Troopers provide a public service. We have to be there, we need to be there out on the roads for the citizens. It is a public safety issue, really, and we need to correct that,” Appling said.
He pointed out that most people only think of State Troopers as people that sit on the side of the road and write tickets, but a citizen might not realize they need the trooper until they are broken down on the side of the road and have to wait for a few hours before they can get help because there are not enough troopers out on patrol.
Appling said the agency has changed over the years since he has been with them.
“We are no longer a proactive agency—we’re now reactive—and that is not how it should be,” Appling said. “We want troopers to be able to be a part of the community and to be able to know the areas and the people where they work and not just people who are out there writing tickets.”
According to the study done by the Center for Advanced Public Safety:
· Prior to full implementation, there were 289 Troopers assigned to the Highway Patrol division of DPS.
· With the statutory implementation of ALEA on 1Jan15, the Secretary was able to increase that number to 431 Troopers assigned to Highway Patrol.
· Accomplished by reassigning 46 Troopers from other divisions previously performing non-patrol duties.
· Singular command structure which gave the Secretary the statutory authority from other legacy agencies.
· Hiring 21 new Troopers (first class since 2010)** Hired through Federal COPS grant.
· Corporals were reassigned as field supervisors and highway patrol duties resulting in 75 additional Troopers on the highway.
