The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published October 4, 2017

Public gives MSHP 91.2 percent approval

JEFFERSON CITY - According to the recent public opinion survey 91.2 percent gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) a good or excellent overall rating.

This, according to the 2017 Public Opinion Survey, which was conducted by the MSHP on their website and was voluntary.

This year’s survey was web-based to increase the response rate and collect a more representative sample of Missouri residents. A total of 1,812 people responded to the survey from July 1 to July 31, 2017.

It is important to note the survey relied entirely on voluntary responses, and included people who are Missouri residents (97.4 percent), nonresidents (2.6 percent) and those who did not disclose this information.

The responses were analyzed and produced the following findings:
• Approximately 3 out of 5 respondents reported having had direct contact with the Patrol. 89.3 percent of those respondents reported an excellent or good experience.
• 91.2 percent of respondents gave the MSHP a good or excellent overall rating.
• 92.7 percent indicated appearance, attitude, and demeanor good or excellent.
• 75.3 percent of respondents indicated enforcing criminal law was the most important duty performed by the MSHP. Detecting/deterring the flow of illegal drugs and traffic crash investigation were identified as very important duties of the MSHP by 70.4 percent and 69.1 percent of respondents, respectively.
• 72.8 percent of respondents indicated MSHP officers are doing an effective to very effective job at deterring alcohol-related boating crashes.
• 88.1 percent approve of DWI saturation patrols and 83.3 percent approve of sobriety checkpoints being used to detect and remove intoxicated drivers from Missouri roadways.

“I very much appreciate those who responded to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Public Opinion Survey,” said Colonel Sandra K. Karsten, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “We take our mission seriously, and your feedback will help us evaluate how we answer the call to serve and protect.”

The 2017 Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Opinion Survey is available in its entirety on the Patrol’s web site: www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov

The survey can be found in the top left corner of the home page.