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Published on Tuesday, September 21, 2004
in the ABC7 News
LEE COUNTY- Florida Highway Patrol troopers say the roads on Southwest Florida are safer because of ABC7's report on local trooper shortages. As a result of ABC7's story, thirteen new state troopers were sent to Southwest Florida after their July graduation. The new troopers are on the roads now, but are training with experienced troopers.
"This is a career I chose, coming from a family of law enforcement, so it just kind of sticks," said Trooper Chris Adkinson of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Adkinson is one of the newest state troopers patrolling the roads.
"We went to the academy in January. We got out, our first day was Charley and we've been working since then," said Adkinson.
He has just six more weeks before he's on his own. For now he's riding and training with Trooper Bill Harris.
"Showing him officer safety, showing them how to make correct traffic stops without conflicts," said Harris.
Ten months ago, troopers complained to ABC7 of having more traffic than they had manpower. ABC7 took the problem to state leaders who then sent Southwest Florida more troopers than any other place in the state after graduating in July.
Even in the training phase, troopers believe the extra pair of eyes in the patrol cars has helped them patrol the roads better. Plus they've managed to clear accident scenes in half the time working as a team. That gives the troopers more time to patrol the roads.
While motorists should know there are more eyes watching them on the roads right now, ABC7 has learned very soon, some of Southwest Florida's most experienced troopers will be leaving the roads.
"We've got a lot of troopers that have been promoted and a lot of corporals that have been promoted to sergeant that's going to be leaving us pretty soon," said Harris.
Adkinson may have been sent to fill a need, but he will soon feel the pressures of a growing shortage.
Hurricane Charley did not slow down the on-the-job training although the new troopers started the day the storm hit. Actually, it helped give them a leg up on disaster response.
Thirteen of the 46 graduates from the July class were sent to Troop F which includes the following counties: Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Hardee, DeSoto,