Jackson Jambalaya

Should be a fun day at DPS today...

Explains why getting a drivers license is such a miserable experience dealing with miserable employees. They barely pay them 20K per year to be the face of MHP.

Wow - more top heavy than Dolly Pardon. Is it possible to break out sworn/non-sworn and uniform/non-uniform performing admin roles? That's where you're going to see the inefficiency. I bet you could find at least 150 troopers performing admin roles to deal with the trooper "shortage".

Please stop with the selective outrage

When Phil Bryant came out with "Protect the Badge" he was setting up his gullible base to give more positions to DPS.

The people bought that crap hook line and sinker and protect the badge he did.

He and his Republican super-majority in the Mississippi legislature gave them more positions, to create more desk jobs. Gotcha once again!

Stupid is as stupid does

Adding to 10:23

Out of 1029 employees listed a quick glance seems to show what I would think are Trooper working the road/streets looks low. If you divided the actual number of Troopers on the road by the shifts seems like the citizen might not be getting dollar for dollar their moneys worth.

Just a quick glance at drivers license service you see a lot of low pay positions but a lot of higher paid positions. So unless some of these folks are also working the streets that would add to the shortage of active street Troopers. This would also apply to several other departments.

I think the Troopers working the mean streets/highways/interstates are doing a good job with not such good pay. I am sure Mississippi Troopers are like those in other states, looking for a better deal in other law enforcement opportunity's.

State Trooper turnover is a problem everywhere. Pay is the problem for a dangerous, sometime boring, sitting in a car all day but important job. National starting pay for 0-5 years is $49K to $52K with the hope a 20 year career leading you to $75K. Think about the year a person starts at $49K and after 20+ years he makes $75K what would the cost of living look like? As of Feb 2018 the national average for Trooper pay was $$53,620. or $23.53 an hour.

I salute those that strap on a gun and vest to go out and enforce the law and protect us. I don't have much respect for politicians and administrators that hide behind desk and cushy offices and their management charts while the front line guys work hard to get nowhere.

States all over the country are moving or already moving renewals and lots of other diver license services online bit not one single state has cut employees, or improved services. They have mostly hired new people and created longer waits and lines. Whats up with that?

Please note I built fences around my words, might-maybe-could-should-etc. I don't have a lot of answers. Just thoughts.

The very first person on the list started in 1981 and makes less than $40,000 a year? Tomorrow is her 37th anniversary and for all her loyalty she makes that?

What the hell?

Is Special Projects Officer III DPS-speak for janitor?

10:23... ding ding ding! Been saying this for years. They have Troopers who are Master SGTs, LTs, and Captains over no one sitting in a office doing a job that a civilian could do.

Tooth to Tail Ratio sucks! I looked at FBI stats from 2014 and fewer than 38% of those were agents. We have a bloated government and their primary interest is to sustain their existence.......on our dime. When Federal government employees became unionized and then used union dues to lobby for Democrats....we should have known we were doomed. We're all basically paying for the Democrat party now, through government employee salaries that produce the dues going to the party. (SEIU) It's a mess.......and we wonder why Trump's message resonated.

Also that doesn't include double retirement benefits, clothing allowance for non uniform purchases. Uniforms,boots, belts, hats, etc are provided free of charge but clothing allowance is for anything else. I know one of the executive protection guys bout a sweet leather coat with part of his because he had to spend it or lose it. Also they get a free car and fuel card even if they work the drivers license bureau and never on the road working. Top brass get new unmarked SUV's. As far as the low paid troopers they can earn good federal money on call backs and DUI enforcement but that is not reflected in state pay. The money reported here is not the full story

One of these salaries is not like the others (by about $50,000). what gives? It’s even drastically greater than others in the same position.

The problem here is that these salaries are not equal across the state. I know for sure investigators in other agencies,except for state auditor office, dont make what mbi investigators make.

JJ: you need a list of non-LEO's who have state cars they get to drive home. There are Commisioner's of other agencies who can't drive their state issues car home. There is a DPS officer who has a major salary and his job to run the gym at MELOTA and drive prisoners to and from the prison across the street and he has a SUV and can take it home. Highway patrol officers write tickets yet they are the highest paid LEO's in the state. Other state LEO's, like MDWFP, who have much broader LE power make way less. Only reason Highway Patrol get more funding is because they guard the Lt. Gov, Speaker and Gov. It's a total joke.

Governor Wannabee Lynn Fitch makes an equal pay non-story out of this in 3...2...1

I see a woman I know on this list, been there since 2010 making ten bucks an hour. She could make that as a Kroger union employee fryin' chicken.

Salaries aside...don't we keep hearing about a shortage of troopers? But there's 1,000 folks in DPS? Can you say bloat?

This list does not include contract employees.

Wow Jim Armstrong makes over $71,000 a year with a vehicle to drive home in, to cook hamburgers & hang up political signs for candidates. Why does someone that sits behind the desk makes more money than actual troopers on the road? Guess just another slush job for someone that works on the Governor campaign. Someone should investigate this and look deeper into this. Time to drain the swamp.

10:10 - those must be some amazing hamburgers...just sayin' This isn't unique to DPS - the taxpayers would be appalled at the number of "no-show" jobs on the state inventory...political payback, or a way to keep someone quiet.

I'd estimate that the state is easily overstaffed by about 20%, and has failed to leverage technology to automate some processes (especially in licensing and regulatory bodies) and does not try to realize operational efficiencies across state agencies. Rather than being a good steward of taxpayers' money, agency leaders seek to build their own empires, really pathetic.

Compare the 2016 salaries to the current salaries and you will see all your agency heads in DPS have given themselves an average raise of about $9000.00 apiece in the last year or so. Something stinks.

I'm wondering if all of the commuting in state vehicles is being accurately reported as a fringe benefit per IRS Pub 15-B. I commonly see state vehicles on weekends at Dogwood, and know of one state employee who does not own a personal vehicle - this is such a drain on the state budget, the miles, fuel and wear and tear really add up if you consider the thousands of vehicles the state owns and operates - an easy fix with technology...

Problem with the cars is that Pickering takes one home for personal use so he really cannot say too much about others. However DPS has many patrol cars being used as commuter vehicles and not on the road. Even the guy who supplies the pencils and paper has a take home vehicle. It’s true.

Did anyone ever investigate or look into the rumors of cooking trailers that were being built by inmate labor at DPS about a month or so ago? Or was it pushed up under the rug too?

Leave ole Jim Armstrong alone! He's Feel's boy!

Building cooking trailers with inmate labor is chicken shat. For decades the Junior and Community Colleges have done the same thing for anybody who is a state employee. Grills, trailers, fire boxes, smokers, auto body repair, mechanical work on personal vehicles...on and on. Supposedly the state employee has to pay for the materials/parts. It's not under the table - It's actually an allowable training opportunity for students (and inmates).

Look at venues like the Coon-hunters Association, deer camps and fifty associated with Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks if you want to see nice, mobile cooking rigs on wheels.

Was it Jim Armstrong’s trailer personal cooking trailer the inmates were building? That’s what the rumors are anyway.

What ever happened to the Huggins indictment?

Does the start date refer to the first day with the agency or the first day in a state position? I'm confused because some of the people on here were not employed with this agency on the date listed.

I've been employed at a low paying position with DPS since 2009 and have yet to get a raise...just like almost all state employees.

@1:01, who's fault is that? If you're not selling your labor for what you think it should be worth, it may be time to move on to an employer who recognizes and appreciates your talent.

In the meantime, we're all dying to know: 1. What have you done to deserve a raise? 2. What contributions have you made to justify taxpayers spending more money to support you? and 3. Did you come up with a new and innovative way to help DPS accomplish its mission, or is your unique talent finding your way to the office every day?

Do tell...KF readers want to know!

Going to be some lawsuits now!!!!!!

Has anyone talked to Stacey Pickering yet to see if that trailer in Morton at Jim Armstrong’s House was built by inmate labor. Anyone talked to the inmates yet? Or is this just another internal investigation swept up under the rug by Feel covering up for his campaign “BIG” boy. Will someone give one of our investigators from Auditors Office his address and the adress to DPS to question the inmates.

Really 10:29, as long as David Huggins is in charge of those investigators, nothing will get done - just think about who's holding his leash right now. Looking at past cases, it seems like the state auditor's purpose in MS is to punish and expose political enemies, not to provide transparency and accountability to taxpayers.

What about Chris Epps, Jr. driving his Convicted Dad's $80,000 Mercedes Benz Sedan to his desk job at MDPS Headquarters everyday?

8:28 sounds a little jealous, just be happy he's not driving a state car.

@1:32 I work hard every day and do an outstanding job. But one wouldn't know that because I can't remember the last time I received a review of my performance. I tend not to sweat that because I know it won't be backed up with a raise. But to be clear, I said I had not received a "raise" since I came to work here. I have, however, been promoted twice based on my skills, experience and performance.

what a crook of shit. Overpaid ticket writers and desk jockeys who couldn't lead a thirsty horse to water.the poor civilian instructors at the training academy have not had a pay raise since 2006. 2006!!!! Let that sink in for a minute. they do the same jobs as the troopers assigned but notice the pay difference: 71k to 41k and the troopers don't teach nearly as much as the civilian guys. the civilian guys at MLEOTA are treated like 3rd class citizens. just about every branch director is 70k plus. and do to what ? the troopers at MLEOTA only work out and eat.FREE MEALS. And make 20 hours of comp time every week that rolls around for sleeping.

I would like to see this become a regular series. Care to publish the attorney general’s law enforcement pay next?

The interesting part is that this covers EVERY DPS employee, not just HWY Patrol. It has AFIS, MJIC, MBI,Crime Lab, etc. So you're seeing everyone, even some people who no longer work here but not the recently hired.

8:23, if you're treated so poorly and paid so far below what you think you're worth, why do you stay? Why don't you look for a better paying job? I get really tired of people complaining about how little they are paid for all of the experience they have.

There are plenty of great paying ($80,000 or better depending on experience) contract jobs for law enforcement and public safety trainers - or maybe its just easier to sit on your ass and complain.

3:06, you sound like someone who has theirs and really don't give a crap whether the next person gets theirs. Were you raised to be selfish and thoughtless or did you learn it on your own? What makes you think you deserve what you're paid? I hate people who live in their own little paradises and then forget about the less fortunate. I have a job with a very good salary, and I don't work hard at all. In fact, I have no drive nor ambition.