The Nebraska State Patrol doesn’t mince words when it comes to the state of its soldier shortage. “To be blunt Senator, he’s the worst he’s ever been,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. This week, he testified before the Nebraska Legislature Appropriations Committee on NSP requests in the governor’s budget. He urged them to approve the funding, which included more money for soldiers’ salaries and a raise to pay for improvements to a state-supported crime lab. There are 69 soldier vacancies out of an approved roster of 482 positions. This is about 14% less. According to Bolduc, the NSP had an average of around 40 vacancies a decade ago but have gradually increased. “It’s a national problem,” Colonel Bolduc said, referring to similar problems he is directly aware of in Kansas and Missouri. , Camp 67, has 15 members. Over the past decade, class sizes have averaged 25 to 30 recruits, he said. “We’ve done a much better job of hiring female candidates which hasn’t been a goal in the past,” he said. “Right now, a third of our soldier candidates are women and three of those five are minorities. We are doing things differently than in the past, but it will take time.” The State Patrol believes low unemployment rates and negative press are contributing to the decline in job positions. “We can debate the merits of these things, but look: this was bad news. People have options, and a large number of people have been exploring options other than law enforcement.” But there is good news. Governor Pillen and the Nebraska State Patrol have negotiated pay increases of 22% effective July of 2023. The starting salary for a soldier is now over $60,000 a year. To apply, click here. Since that December announcement, applications for the next class of recruits are the highest in recent memory, Bolduc said.
The Nebraska State Patrol doesn’t mince words when it comes to the state of its soldier shortage.
“To be blunt Senator, he’s the worst he’s ever been,” said Colonel John Bolduc, superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol.
This week, he testified before the Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on NSP requests in the governor’s budget.
He urged them to approve the funding, which included more money for soldiers’ salaries and a raise to pay for improvements to a supported state crime lab.
There are 69 soldier vacancies out of an approved roster of 482 positions. This is about 14% less. According to Bolduc, NSP had an average of around 40 vacancies a decade ago but has gradually increased.
“It’s a national problem,” Colonel Bolduc said, referring to similar problems he is directly aware of in Kansas and Missouri.
The current class of NSP recruits, Camp 67, has 15 members. Over the past decade, class sizes have averaged 25 to 30 recruits, she said.
“We’ve done a much better job of hiring female candidates which hasn’t been a goal in the past,” she said. “Right now, a third of our soldier candidates are women and three of those five are minorities. We are doing things differently than in the past, but it will take time.”
The State Patrol believes low unemployment rates and negative press are contributing to the decline in job positions.
“We’ve had some pretty bad stocks over the last 12 years,” Bolduc said. “We can debate the merits of these things, but look: this was bad news. People have options, and a large number of people have been exploring options other than law enforcement.”
But there is good news. Governor Pillen and the Nebraska State Patrol have negotiated pay increases of 22% effective July of 2023. The starting salary for a soldier is now over $60,000 a year. To apply, click here.
Since that December announcement, applications for the next class of recruits are the highest in recent memory, Bolduc said.
