Published on Sunday, October 16, 2005
in the Ft. Myers News-Press

Deaths increase, but state troopers don't

From the Panhandle to the Keys, Jacksonville to the Everglades, people are dying in record numbers on Florida's roadways.

Traffic fatalities are up 11 percent statewide compared to last year.

In Lee County, they're up 94 percent.

Law enforcers, traffic engineers, politicians and drivers offer multiple reasons for the deadly increase.

They blame alcohol, congested highways, speeding drivers and failure to wear seat belts.

And they all agree — the agency charged with patrolling state highways is falling down on the job.

A News-Press data-based analysis of records shows:

• It ranks next to last in the United States for the number of officers per capita.
• Fewer troopers patrol state roads than in 2003.
• They arrest fewer drunken drivers and cite fewer seat-belt violators in Southwest Florida than they did five years ago.
• The time troopers spend on the roads hasn't increased in five years.

The reason the FHP isn't growing with the booming population? State leaders refuse to pay the bill.

Rep. Irv Slosberg blames the governor and Legislature.

"The state wants to shift the bill to the cities and counties," said the Boca Raton Democrat. “It’s the wild, wild West out there because we don’t have law enforcement. The governor doesn’t want to fund it.”

It may or may not be “wild,” but in Southwest Florida, Lee County has recorded 121 traffic deaths, up from 62 at the same time last year.

Gov. Jeb Bush has said he’s concerned about the highway carnage but wouldn’t commit to beefing up the highway patrol.

“The governor feels it’s important to fund public safety,” spokeswoman Deena Reppen said.

But, she said, it’s too early in the budget cycle for next year to agree to fund more troopers.

It’s not too early for county taxpayers to pick up a bigger share of the law enforcement bill.

In Lee County, Sheriff Mike Scott asked taxpayers for 135 new positions for next year.

That’s nearly double the force of 84 troopers who patrol Southwest Florida from Venice to Naples, a number that hasn’t increased since 2002.

Scott said he doesn’t budget his needs based on the manpower of other departments but the lack of help from FHP is a concern.

Someone has to patrol Lee County roads.

Troopers cover traffic crashes and patrol state highways such as Interstate 75 (also called State Road 93). They don’t respond to 911 calls.

“This area has always been understaffed by FHP,” Scott said.

Commissioners gave Scott enough money to pay for 44 new deputies. FHP lost 26 trooper positions this year.

TRAILING THE NATION

Florida’s population is up by more than 1.5 million people since 2000.

Yet, the Legislature has added only 22 troopers.

Because of that:

• Troopers are writing 20 percent fewer seat-belt tickets in Southwest Florida.
• They’re making 22 percent fewer DUI arrests then in 2000.
• They respond to nearly 10 percent more crashes.

They’re so backed up with crashes, there is little time for traffic patrol, said Lt. Doug Dodson in Bradenton.

That makes roads dangerous.

“There’s just not enough enforcement,” said Carl Greenman, a Cape Coral resident who teaches a safe-driving class for older drivers. “We can have all the laws to protect people but if they’re not enforced, what good are they?”

State Rep. Trudi Williams, R-Fort Myers, agreed.

“I don’t see that many troopers on the road anymore,” she said.

The state should fund FHP manpower in proportion to population increases, she said.

If that were the case, there would be nearly 200 more troopers on Florida roadways.

Florida has nine troopers for every 100,000 residents compared to 22 in New York, 21 in Michigan and 13 in Ohio.

Only Wisconsin has fewer troopers per capita at just under nine.

When Florida swells with tourists in the winter, the trooper shortage gets worse.

Burt Rubin, a 20-year Alva resident said he rarely sees troopers when he makes occasional trips to Naples.

FHP director Col. Chris Knight said the agency is concerned.

“We recognize that we have a problem, especially in Lee and Collier counties,” Knight said.

LOW PAY, LESS INTEREST

On top of manpower cuts, Florida troopers are leaving for better pay.

Knight estimates he loses eight to nine troopers a month, many to other agencies because the money is better.

An exhaustive training program — estimated to cost taxpayers about $70,000 per trooper — and strict entrance requirements make troopers “very attractive to other agencies,” Knight said.

Rookie troopers in Lee County make $33,500.

Neil Mariotti, a 20-year trooper and member of the union that represents troopers, said there’s no incentive to stay.

“The problem is there is no real difference in pay between a first-year trooper and a 10-year veteran,” he said.

Last year the Legislature gave troopers a small pay raise — the average amount per trooper was $800 — to make the pay scale more equitable, but it was only half of what FHP estimated it needed.

State Sen. Dave Aronberg, a Greenacres Democrat whose district includes parts of Lee County, agreed “there’s a legitimate pay issue there.”

Because of those pay issues, FHP has 110 vacancies, nearly 10 percent of its manpower.

“The reason we haven’t asked for more positions in the past few years is because we’re trying to fill the vacancies we have,” Knight said.

He said he’ll have most of those filled by the end of the year, but it’s a constant battle to stay ahead of personnel losses.

The Legislature will take up the issue of trooper pay in the next session.

FIXING THE PROBLEM

Knight has promised help is on the way. He’s asking for 50 new troopers next year at a cost of $4.3 million, including training and equipment, and 425 more troopers over seven years.

If the Legislature agrees, “the lion’s share (of new troopers) will be going to Central and Southwest Florida,” Knight said.

Williams said she would support an increase and figures that if Lee County can get 44 new deputies the state should be able to put more troopers on the roads.

Slosberg agreed that the state must increase pay and the number of officers in the FHP.

“Without the proper enforcement, fatalities will continue to grow,” he said.