On Wednesday, September 23, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) appeared before legislative leaders to present their budget requests to be considered in the upcoming legislative session.  Commissioner Steve Simpson told legislators at the budget hearing that he wanted a shortened trooper school so that former law enforcement officers could go through an abbreviated trooper school.  According to the Clarion Ledger article “Tight Budget Stumps Leaders,” on September 24, Simpson said, “about 70 troopers have retired or left since the state last held a trooper school in 2007. He said a new trooper school is ‘very badly needed.’  Simpson said he’s discussing the possibility of allowing certified, trained law enforcement across the state to join the Highway Safety Patrol without participating in the required 22-week training class.” He is also requesting an additional 30% increase in the DPS budget, more PINS for the Bureau of Narcotics, and more funds to hire a state medical examiner.  According to the same article referenced above, Simpson also said “an increase on fees for driver’s licenses, gun permits and registration for sex offenders also would help the department. The number of hours that troopers spend on the road would be ‘the last measure to be affected as a result of a budget cut.’”