Fhp

[newcock6525]

I just took my pat test last for the highway patrol. I quess my questions goes out to the troopers. Can you quys be proactive meaning going out there looking for drugs and guns on the higways and in the hood. I know traffic is is the main course of the job traffic crashes. I work for an agencie were we are 100% customer service. How is the department in a whole.

[StudChris]

There is no "hood" for FHP. Getting drugs and guns is not their job, in fact someone told me that they no longer even have an interdiction unit (don't know if that's true or not). If you're planning on spending your days looking for drugs and guns, don't even apply. I'm not saying you won't find them, just saying if that's your main focus you're boss is going to be up your 6 in no time.

As far as being proactive as far as speeding and reckless drivers go, there are units for FHP that are 100% proactive, however as far just being a trooper, in many areas they are so strapped for manpower that you're going from one crash to another. There were several nights a couple weeks ago where 1 trooper was working at least Volusia and Seminole counties.

[Florida Smokey]

There is no "hood" for FHP. Getting drugs and guns is not their job, in fact someone told me that they no longer even have an interdiction unit (don't know if that's true or not). If you're planning on spending your days looking for drugs and guns, don't even apply. I'm not saying you won't find them, just saying if that's your main focus you're boss is going to be up your 6 in no time.



I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but where did you get your information from? Since when is getting drugs and guns not part of a State Trooper's job???? If it makes you feel any better I'm one of the supervisors that you mentioned would be "up your 6" if they were out looking for contraband. I can't remember one time in my supervisory career where I even THOUGHT of chastizing a Trooper for making an arrest. How exactly would a supervisor go about chewing someone out for doing their job, especially when they are proactively looking to make this state safer for citizens, visitors and other cops by removing weapons, drugs, or (insert whatever you want here) from our streets?

[ChRdy21799]

Well said Florida Smokey.

[PB3021]

My experience working with troopers is that while you may not be digging stuff up in the hood you are free to be proactive on the roads. You can dig up a lot that way. However, they do run from crash to crash, severly limiting the ability to work that way. In addition, the troopers I've worked with, from crashes to escorts, have been great. Unfortunately FHP and perhaps more accurately, the state, are horrible, horrible employers. Pay, lack of regular raises, not to mention no step program, low staffing, and leadership issues really make it an unattractive choice. Those who've been there a long time may be on the old step program where they get regular merit raises, but most of them make mid 30's regardless of their time on unless they promote. I regularly try to recruit them to our agency but once your in place for awhile it's hard to move. I'm a traffic guy and would've considered FHP if they had pay and morale issues in order.

[ERMDPD]

I just took my pat test last for the highway patrol. I quess my questions goes out to the troopers. Can you quys be proactive meaning going out there looking for drugs and guns on the higways and in the hood. I know traffic is is the main course of the job traffic crashes. I work for an agencie were we are 100% customer service. How is the department in a whole.

FHP is a state traffic enforcement agency. They mainly patrol highways & state roads. I've never heard of FHP going through the hood looking for narcotics. If your looking to arrest people for drugs, burglarys, robberies etc... I recommend going to a PD or Sherriff's. If what you look to do is traffic enforcement/write citations & respond to traffic accidents then FHP is exactly what your looking for. With that said... that doesn't mean FHP won't come across a robbery, drugs, guns, vehicle chases, and arrest people every once in a while... On MDPD's HQ frequency you hear FHP always calling for back up because they had some one bail out of the car, vehicle chase, or are fighting with a guy.

[StudChris]

I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but where did you get your information from? Since when is getting drugs and guns not part of a State Trooper's job???? If it makes you feel any better I'm one of the supervisors that you mentioned would be "up your 6" if they were out looking for contraband. I can't remember one time in my supervisory career where I even THOUGHT of chastizing a Trooper for making an arrest. How exactly would a supervisor go about chewing someone out for doing their job, especially when they are proactively looking to make this state safer for citizens, visitors and other cops by removing weapons, drugs, or (insert whatever you want here) from our streets?


My response was regarding his comment about playin in the hood, not doing interdiction work on the highway (which is the world's greatest thing and I'd do it in a heart beat). Since I have your attention, is it true that yall no longer have an interdiction team? Obviously the guys that are workin the turn pike or 95 are going to be looking for interdiction work regardless of if it's their primary job or not.

And I'm another that would love to be a trooper if it weren't for the fact that I'd have to take a pay cut. I'm a DUI unit as it is now anyway, so doing it for the state would even be better.

[TPD85]

FHP continues to get a bad name on this page, and it really isn't necessary. My brother in-law is a trooper, and he is just as valuable when it comes to law enforcement as me, the local PD officer.

Of course FHP is understaffed, underpaid, and overworked. I'm sure if you spoke to most officers in this state, they would all agree that they are too! FHP does hump a lot of calls, mostly traffic crashes. But most of us officers working in large metro areas do the same thing. As soon as you check on, there are 15 calls holding for you. In the end though, you find time to be proactive in your work. You get slow nights every once and awhile, and a majority of police work is getting lucky. If you are proactive, it is only a matter of time that you find something!

FHP is a great agency, and they are in need of some young and positive officers. They have tons of time to do interdiction, DUI's, and other criminal violations. And if you like driving a cool intimidating car with lots of nice equipment, they are for you!

[pyro2]

great post.

[LeanG]

I just took my pat test last for the highway patrol. I quess my questions goes out to the troopers. Can you quys be proactive meaning going out there looking for drugs and guns on the higways and in the hood. I know traffic is is the main course of the job traffic crashes. I work for an agencie were we are 100% customer service. How is the department in a whole.

You can be as proactive as time allows. Also, in ref. to your question about being active in the "hood", it really depends on how close your assigned work zone is to the area you want to be proactive in. I can't just arbitrarily drive 25 miles out of my zone to look for drugs.

And don't forget, if you want to be proactive in the less desirable areas, go with a buddy. Staffing may not allow you to be as active as you'd like to be. Officer safety comes first.

[Florida Smokey]

Since I have your attention, is it true that yall no longer have an interdiction team?


Our interdiction teams are alive and well. They make some pretty big cases quite frequently but they don't usually make the news. They try to keep low key.

[ChevyPower]

FHP's website has stories about busts and troop news.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/

As far as being able to print tickets, that is awesome. The few times I rode with a trooper, it was always a kick to see that. One time, they even let me fill out the info, but dont tell no one.

[StudChris]

Our interdiction teams are alive and well. They make some pretty big cases quite frequently but they don't usually make the news. They try to keep low key.

Good good. There are way too much drugs, guns, and money going through Florida, so it disappointed me when someone said that they got disbanded. I'm glad they were wrong.

[FLTPR_G]

FHP's workload varies around the State. I know the metropolitan area Troopers are usually slammed with crashes. In my county, I work maybe 3-5 crashes a week on average. Some weeks I have more, some I have none. The rest of the time is usually spent being proactive looking for traffic violations in an attempt to make criminal cases. My days of writing a ton of tickets set sail a while back. Instead I get my stop, look for indicators-if none, cut them loose. There is more to life than speeding tickets.

I personally do not work the low income neighborhoods. i enjoy working the Interstate.

This job is all about what part of the State you work in. One location you could be slammed by the time you check on to the time you get off, but another could have a quiet radio.

[BOSMIA]

From what I have read some areas Troopers mostly work main state roads and the interstate. Other areas Troopers are free to patrol those areas as well as less populated state roads.

[Taylor13]

Our interdiction teams are alive and well. They make some pretty big cases quite frequently but they don't usually make the news. They try to keep low key.

Yeah, I've logged on to the FHP site a couple of times and one time there was a huge truck load of like DVD players or some other counterfeit goods seized by them. They are really good I know they've been doing major stuff and congrats to em'

[BOSMIA]

There is no "hood" for FHP. Getting drugs and guns is not their job, in fact someone told me that they no longer even have an interdiction unit (don't know if that's true or not). If you're planning on spending your days looking for drugs and guns, don't even apply. I'm not saying you won't find them, just saying if that's your main focus you're boss is going to be up your 6 in no time.

As far as being proactive as far as speeding and reckless drivers go, there are units for FHP that are 100% proactive, however as far just being a trooper, in many areas they are so strapped for manpower that you're going from one crash to another. There were several nights a couple weeks ago where 1 trooper was working at least Volusia and Seminole counties.

1 Trooper for 2 counties...wow what a joke.

[BOSMIA]

You can be as proactive as time allows. Also, in ref. to your question about being active in the "hood", it really depends on how close your assigned work zone is to the area you want to be proactive in. I can't just arbitrarily drive 25 miles out of my zone to look for drugs.

And don't forget, if you want to be proactive in the less desirable areas, go with a buddy. Staffing may not allow you to be as active as you'd like to be. Officer safety comes first.


In Troop E can you drift outside your zone on to other suface roads / state roads to catch red light runners, speeders, etc? I know the interstate and major state roads are the main priority of FHP, but I am sure it is nice to mix it up a bit.

I have read some Troops are putting tight leash on Troopers and trying to keep them in their zones.

[BBM]

I saw a Trooper the other day on 1-92 in Melbourne in the city heading towards 95....

I have been seeing more and more troopers cruising around in Melbourne. Any particular reason why?

[Taylor13]

I saw four troopers on a stop last weekend, and there was no car, just 4 guys with their lights on in the median, the whole FHP state force was out there in Melbourne! Whats up with this?!

[pyro2]

ive seen that a few times here as well...i figured there was a car off the road or something.

[LeanG]

In Troop E can you drift outside your zone on to other suface roads / state roads to catch red light runners, speeders, etc? I know the interstate and major state roads are the main priority of FHP, but I am sure it is nice to mix it up a bit.

I have read some Troops are putting tight leash on Troopers and trying to keep them in their zones.

Absolutely. These "state roads" are where we mainly respond to incidents. However, we're not restricted to remain and patrol these state roads exclusively. I'm everywhere and I'm sure other Troops are the same way. Especially in an urban environment like Miami.

Even if you wanted to stay only on the State Roads, you have to cross over local roadways and different jurisdictions to get from one zone to another. All State Roads don't naturally connect

Also, something to remember...If you're active, you're left alone. If you're a slug, you draw unnecessary attention.

[ERMDPD]

I saw four troopers on a stop last weekend, and there was no car, just 4 guys with their lights on in the median, the whole FHP state force was out there in Melbourne! Whats up with this?!

Probably trying to enforce the move over law... Last week I saw a trooper doing about 10mph on the median with his back LEDs on. I noticed a car didn't move over and could have (no traffic at night). The trooper turned off his lights and went to catch up to him.

I went to Orlando this past weekend (from Miami). I noticed on the way up alot of signs saying "Move over, it's the law". I haven't seen any of those in Miami. I also notice that people actually move over now (atleast on the way there).

[BOSMIA]

Absolutely. These "state roads" are where we mainly respond to incidents. However, we're not restricted to remain and patrol these state roads exclusively. I'm everywhere and I'm sure other Troops are the same way. Especially in an urban environment like Miami.

Even if you wanted to stay only on the State Roads, you have to cross over local roadways and different jurisdictions to get from one zone to another. All State Roads don't naturally connect

Also, something to remember...If you're active, you're left alone. If you're a slug, you draw unnecessary attention.


Got ya man. The freedom seems like a strong positive for the job.

[BOSMIA]

Probably trying to enforce the move over law... Last week I saw a trooper doing about 10mph on the median with his back LEDs on. I noticed a car didn't move over and could have (no traffic at night). The trooper turned off his lights and went to catch up to him.

I went to Orlando this past weekend (from Miami). I noticed on the way up alot of signs saying "Move over, it's the law". I haven't seen any of those in Miami. I also notice that people actually move over now (atleast on the way there).

They are starting to put up signs in S. Florida. Also been seeing it up on the electronic board on 95.

[E3CSHARP]

Florida Smokey, LeanG, FLTR, Frostbite and others I have been considering this idea for a mighty long time. If at some point the speed of a pursuit was getting more and more dangerous as each minute passes, why wouldnt the brass/state of florida consider allowing officers to snapshot a vehicle entire rear view including license plate? The snapshot image would ofcourse have a date and timestamp associated with the image. That image can then be used to identify a fleeing vehicle that was unsafe to continue pursuit. Can that image not be then used to prove the charge against the violator? Now yes there is surely a possibility that the owner of the vehicle was never actually driving the vehicle. Could have been a friend or family member, maybe even a thief. I guess in this instance the possibility of identifying the violator would yet now be unsure.

Everyone else please feel free to jump in, I think the issue of pursuit policy specifically extremely high rate of speed instances is a situation all law enforcement agencies face whether it be state, county or city.

[Tpr]

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[BOSMIA]

Tpr isn't backup an issue though? Does this impact response time to crashes on the interstate and state roads you work crashes on? Thank you.

[Tpr]

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[BOSMIA]

Tpr would you mind telling what part of Florida you work? How are the overall conditions at FHP (besides pay issues)? Thanks.

[Tpr]

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[BOSMIA]

Thanks Tpr!