State Trooper numbers decline

Between the pandemic, civil unrest, and spiking violent crime rates statewide, the Georgia Department of Public Safety has seen a 60 percent drop in state trooper applications and near-record lows in total number of officers.  A state Senate study committee is looking at the issue, taking into account questions like salaries and trooper school length in an effort to correct the 22 percent turnover rate that has led to such a decline.  Hopefully the committee finds some answers, because a drop in state troopers when crime is trending the other direction has public safety SINKING…