FHP Says High Turnover No Barrier To Irma Response

WFSU | By Jim Ash

Published September 7, 2017 at 4:38 PM EDT

The Florida Highway Patrol says low pay and high turnover aren’t hamstringing Hurricane Irma response. But a union official says it shouldn’t take a mass evacuation to remind lawmakers of the value of the FHP.

The Florida Highway Patrol has struggled for years with low pay and high turnover, but an agency spokesman says that won't hamper Irma response.

Traffic jams across the state trapped evacuees for hours Thursday, but FHP chief spokesman Captain Jeffrey Bassainthe says his agency has enough personnel to do the job.

“Well we have over 1,700 troopers staffed, so like I said, all personnel, office personnel, are out of the office, days off have been cancelled and we’re working 12-hour shifts. We want to ensure that we have maximum staffing and that we’re out there to assist the public into helping them get there safely.”

More than 900 troopers resigned or retired since 2010, about half the workforce, and FHP reported 240 vacancies this spring. Starting troopers make just $34,000 a year, well below neighboring states.

Florida PBA executive director Matt Puckett is confident FHP can handle Irma. But he says it shouldn’t take a killer storm to remind lawmakers how much their work is needed.

“It’s a shame that it took a storm like this to maybe get people to focus on it, we’ll take the focus, and hopefully, in the aftermath, we can start rebuilding the FHP like it needs to be.”

Governor Rick Scott is recommending $30 million for law enforcement and Puckett hopes to convince lawmakers to use some of it to create a step pay plan for lawmakers.