TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Since 2010, the Florida Highway Patrol has lost nearly 1,000 troopers and some state lawmakers point to low pay for the extreme exodus.
FHP says the troopers were lost due to resignation or retirement during that time period.
To help swell the ranks, lawmakers passed a 5 percent pay increase for all state-level law enforcement officers starting on July 1.
While the move will increase the pay for a starting trooper, Florida still pays less than surrounding states.
Starting pay for an FHP trooper is currently about $34,000; in Mississippi it is $38,000; and in Louisiana it is $47,000.
The lack of troopers has caused the number of citations issued in Florida to drop.
The trooper academy generally trains 80 recruits per class three times a year.
The current class is less than half full, officials said.