The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) conducts a Community Alliance Program every other year in each of its nine troops.
The program is meant for community members who want to learn what MSHP does and how it operates.
I am participating in Troop F's program, which includes the News Tribune's coverage area. I'm not only participating in the program to become an informed citizen, I'm also going to write about my experience during the six-week course. Hopefully by chronicling my experience, readers can better understand the functions of a vital state agency that has served the public for more than 80 years.
The Community Alliance Program began Thursday evening and will run every Thursday through Nov. 7.
Thursday's course included presentations on the history of MSHP, MSHP's Information and Communications Technology Division, drivers examinations, motor vehicle inspections, commercial vehicle officers and a demonstration of the officers' tools of the trade.
The first course was mainly informational. Here are some facts mentioned about MSHP:
• MSHP has 60 cameras placed at various locations on Missouri highways and interstates.
• There are 1,064 sworn MSHP troopers statewide, 118 assigned to Troop F.
• Around 50 percent of written driver examinations are failed every year.
• 17 percent of vehicles inspected through the Motor Vehicle Inspection program have one or more defects that must be fixed.
• MSHP troopers carry an extra 18-19 pounds of equipment on their person.
Upcoming courses that I will attend as part of the Community Alliance Program include learning how troopers learn to drive fast, a discussion of crime control, an evening spent at the firing range and a dinner at the MSHP Academy.
Stay tuned to read how the rest of the course pans out.