Florida Highway Patrol said it needs 162 officers statewide to be fully staffed

The Florida Highway Patrol hopes a bump in pay will attract more men and women to become troopers.

FHP is dealing with a shortage of nearly 200 troopers across the state.

The Florida Higway Patrol is hiring. It’s a message Master Sergeant Dylan Bryan said FHP wants everyone to know.

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“We’re basically getting the word out as best as we can to get these numbers up, but more importantly, get officers on the road,” Bryan said.

FHP said it needs to hire 162 troopers to be fully staffed. Ten of those troopers will be based in Northeast Florida, six in Duval County, one in Baker County, one in Clay County, one in Putnam County and one in St. Johns County. Bryan said troopers try to respond to all scenes in 30 minutes or less, but being short-staffed makes it difficult.

“We are partnered with other law enforcement agencies, higher education institutions and so forth to increase and promote our recruitment,” Bryan said.

Andrew Adams lives in Jacksonville Beach and believes more money is the answer.

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“Money will bring people in there, but you have to make sure you get the right quality of people to come in,” Adams said.

Money is exactly what FHP is offering. Recently Florida Governor Rick Scott signed legislation, moving the starting salary from almost $34,000 a year to $36,223.

Dylan said there’s also a 5 percent pay increase for state law enforcement officers.

Cox Media Group