The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce the lifting of the statewide Trooper mileage restriction, effective immediately.  The mileage restriction was placed into effect in December 2016 in order to make up for a FY17 budget cut.  With Gov. Fallin’s signing of the state budget, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol can resume normal patrol operations.

DPS Commissioner Michael Thompson and OHP Chief Ricky Adams extend their deep appreciation to Gov. Fallin for her leadership during an extraordinarily difficult budget year.  Without her efforts, DPS would be facing a looming public safety crisis.

Chief Adams said the new state budget should allow OHP to resume normal patrol duties and better serve communities across Oklahoma.   “With 26 percent of an already strained workforce considering retirement, furloughs would have been devastating to our ranks,” he said.  “I also want to extend my genuine gratitude to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority for funding the 64th OHP Academy in 2016 and now the 65th OHP Academy in 2018.  Without this partnership, our losses though retirements, injury, and deaths would be completely demoralizing.”

Commissioner Michael Thompson said, “I sincerely appreciate Gov. Fallin making the initial outreach to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to make this partnership possible.  Our partnership with the OTA is invaluable to all of us. I am extremely happy to know we will be adding State Troopers to our ranks in 2018, thanks to the OTA. Our communities across Oklahoma deserve our best. And with the lifting of the mileage restriction, our troopers will be able to be proactive instead of reactive, and hopefully result in a safer Oklahoma.”