Water patrol officers trade in waterways for highways starting this weekend

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The public is expected to see no difference in the services provided by Missouri State Highway Patrol as the members of its Water Patrol Division begin transitioning into their road duties on Saturday.

"In the past, the Water Patrol (officers) worked their season, then they would, due to all the overtime and leave days, … take a lot of time off in their off season," explained Capt. George Ridens, Troop E's commanding officer. "What they are doing this year, since they have been transitioned over to the Highway Patrol, is effective the first of October, they will become troop personnel."

This change is the result of legislation signed by Gov. Jay Nixon last summer, which led to the Missouri State Water Patrol being absorbed into the highway patrol on Jan. 1.

When the initial transition took place in March, Ridens said, the Water Patrol Division troopers were sent to the patrol's academy for four weeks, followed by a 10-day, ride-along orientation with a road officer.

What the troops now will do is "re-indoctrinate" the Water Patrol Division officers to "handling road functions," Ridens said. " … We do that for any road officer who has been off the road, usually in excess of six months."

Unlike other road troopers, Ridens said, these officers also will be handling their water patrol functions.

"They are still Water Patrol Division officers," Ridens said. " … Their first response is to the waters.

"They will augment, supplement the road officers whenever they are not doing water patrol functions."

According to Ridens, this process is "new to all of us. This is our plan at this point in time."

From a water aspect, "I don't think the public will see anything change," said Lt. Mike Pulliam.

Clark Parrott, Troop E's public information officer, agreed.

From a water patrol standpoint, "that service isn't going to go away," Parrott said. "We're going to continue to work the water, while getting three additional bodies in troop to work within the zones."

What citizens are going to see, from a "road aspect and critical incidents, is we'll have the ability to provide more services easier because they are part of our agency and vice versa," Pulliam said.

During the spring flooding, "we had uniformed road officers in the boats with them, so we certainly aided in their role in responding a lot easier than before," Pulliam said.

Effective Saturday, Ridens said, the three water patrol officers living within the 13-counties of Troop E "will come to Troop E."

"Basically, all that we're doing is their scheduling, overseeing their reports (and) overseeing their day-to-day operation until spring when they go back out to the water patrol side, back to the waterways," Ridens said.

The water patrol officers, according to Ridens, will ride in patrol cars with other officers starting out.

Once the zone sergeants feel comfortable "with them doing their job, they'll be on the road alone," Ridens said. "They will be operating out of their pickups."

Even before "the merger, (water patrol officers) had the authority to do car stops," Pulliam said. "Again, it's really not changing, other than the different uniforms and their vehicles as marked highway patrol as opposed to water patrol."

Parrott agreed.

"Their uniforms are the same as what we all wear," Parrott said.

The only difference is "you're going to see some pickup trucks out there making enforcement stops now," Parrott said.

If red and blue lights appearing "behind you (from) a pickup worries you, then pull over at the first safe spot you can, roll your window down far enough so you can talk to the officer and tell them your concerns and ask him for his identification," Ridens said. "Make sure he is in a uniform."

With the additional personnel, Ridens said, comes additional responsibilities "we've not had in the past. It's going to be a learning experience for them; it's going to be a learning experience for us in the troop, but the public should not see any difference at all."

Ridens said the transition should be "seamless as far as what goes on on the waterways and the roadways."

Pertinent address:

4947 Highway 67 North Poplar Bluff, MO