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Missouri State Highway and Water Patrol merger under review

Dave Conner
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Flickr

  The Missouri State Highway Patrol will testify in front of the legislative committee and Missouri citizens on the effectiveness of its merger with the state’s Water Patrol.

The departments merged in 2011 under Governor Jay Nixon who said the state would save an annual 3 million dollars upon signing the legislation.

State representative Rocky Miller says the state opened conversations on the topic after the death of a student last summer who drowned while handcuffed under custody of a water patrol officer. The officer was reportedly not properly trained in how to apply a life vest on a handcuffed prisoner. 

“Depending on how many are there to talk, they may be limited on how long they have to talk," Miller said. "We don’t want to go over the same ground twice but we really don’t want anyone to think they are being hindered from letting their voice be heard so that’s a very important part of the process also.”

The legislative committee will also discuss whether joining  the two departments has actually saved money for taxpayers. The first meeting will be held on Wednesday with a follow up meeting on October  14th..

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