Sadly, a drowning had to happen to prompt a much-needed review of the 2011 merger of Missouri's Highway Patrol and Water Patrol.
House Speaker Tim Jones has formed a legislative committee to review the merger in the aftermath of the drowning of a suspect while in the custody of a patrol trooper.
Although the death of the handcuffed suspect who fell overboard and drowned has been ruled accidental, the trooper - who faces no charges - said he had not been trained on how to properly fit a life vest on a handcuffed prisoner.
The review panel was formed at the request of Lake area representatives Diane Franklin, R-Camdenton; Rocky Miller, R-Tuscumbia; and David Wood, R-Gravois Mills. It will include other lawmakers and a retired Highway Patrol officer.
A review of the merger is overdue.
In this forum on July 2, 2010, we wrote: "The merger of the state's Highway Patrol and Water Patrol makes sense, in theory. Whether it will prove sensible in practice remains to be seen ... The cuts target civilian positions within the agencies, not uniformed officers ..."
In the 2010 editorial we quoted Michael O'Connell, director of communications for the Department of Public Safety, saying the merger is designed "to keep the same number of uniformed officers on the highways and waterways, and eliminate administrative overlap."
We concluded: "But we also are mindful that the Highway Patrol and Water Patrol officers serve on the front lines of public safety. Their enforcement efforts have reduced fatal accidents, curbed drunken driving and boating, and continue to enhance safe travel and recreation for all Missourians.
"We must wait and see if and how the merger will compromise those efforts."
We are all for money-saving ideas, but not if those ideas undermine public safety.
Among the facts the review panel must determine are how much money is saved and what has been the effect, if any, on stafffing and training of uniformed officers.
Missouri's Highway Patrol and Water Patrol both have earned well-deserved reputations as elite law enforcement agencies.
Those reputations must not be diluted.
We welcome the legislative review and await the panel's findings.