After 19 weeks of training, 36 newly commissioned South Carolina Highway Patrol officers headed home Friday for a weekend of rest before starting eight more weeks of field training.
But interim Highway Patrol Director Lt. Col. Mike Oliver says that the new officers are about equal to the number who retire each year, which leaves the force vastly understaffed compared to the 1,000-officers ideal. Three years ago the force had 983 officers across the state, but with recession budget cuts the department is down to 804.
Department of Public Safety oversees Highway Patrol and has requested funding for 40 new officer positions.
On Thursday Director Leroy Smith, who was appointed by Gov. Nikki Haley in October after serving 22 years with the Florida Highway Patrol, presented a budget request to a House subcommittee.
To add 40 highway patrol positions it would cost $4.5 million, including $1.9 million in one-time equipment costs in addition to salaries, benefits and operating costs like vehicle maintenance and insurance.
Despite the reduced staff, the agency reports that the number of highway deaths has gone done from 921 in 2008 to 774 in 2010.
Still, Oliver said that calls for help have remained constant and that spreading patrolmen too thin “puts a load on them” and slows them down.
"It may mean a longer wait time for us to respond to a collision. We certainly respond as quick as we can to clear the roadway and investigate their collisions, but more troopers certainly gives us the ability to do that quicker," Oliver said.
He said more troopers could also mean more DUI arrests in addition to being able to clear wrecks fasters.
Smith said the department will be proactive with the resources it's given, but that he would prefer to bring down response times and thinks 40 new positions would prevent existing troopers from getting “overtaxed.”
“Will that get us to where we need to be? No, but is it a step in the right direction? Absolutely.”
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