Alabama Facing “Critical” State Trooper Shortage
State Troopers say they are facing a critical shortage of manpower, but there’s not enough money in the budget to hire more troopers.
They say if more money isn’t allocated to hire more troopers, there could be consequences on Alabama’s roads and highways. Right now, there are just over 400 troopers in the state. An independent University of Alabama study showed there should be 1,016.
“There’s an officer safety issue with that happening, we also have guys that are stretched thin, they’re going from call to call, they’re not able to be proactive. We’re more of a reactive agency right now,” said Cpl. Jess Thornton.
Thornton says the merger with about a dozen other law enforcement agencies to created the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (known as ALEA) helped streamline, but he says state troopers need more support.
State Senator Quinton Ross says he agrees something needs to be done.
“We need more state troopers on the road and there’s been a federal grant that’s been received. I think we as a state through our state general fund need to find the money to increase, but we also have a budget shortfall in the general fund,” Ross said.
Until more troopers are hired, though, you could be left waiting longer on the roads if you’re in an accident or if you need help on the highway. Troopers also worry the lack of law enforcement visibility could come with consequences.
“People are going to drive in an unsafe manner. People are going to be more likely to speed and break your traffic laws,” said Thornton.
There is one county in our area that has no assigned state trooper at all, Perry County.
State Troopers say many other counties only have one or two patrolling on a regular basis.
