Recent media reports have indicated a lack of Highway Patrol in eastern North Carolina. Captain John Nyberg of Troop A says the shortage is real and they have sustained a minimum of troopers for years. Nyberg says Troop A currently employs 121 Highway Patrolmen, but the ideal number is 150.
"That number is one that's been around for quite a long time, and you don't have to look that far to see how much the population has increased over the years."
Nyberg says the Highway Patrol is constantly engaged in recruiting efforts, but one problem is a lack of interest in the law enforcement field.
A secondary cause for the storage is the increasing number of troopers retiring. Nyberg says the shortage means longer response times for citizens and longer hours for Patrolmen.