Dear Senator/Representative,
I hope this email finds you well. As the President of the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association (WHPA), I am writing to share some urgent concerns regarding a compensation crisis that has transitioned from a budget detail into a serious concern for our state’s public safety.
The reality is stark: WHP’s compensation is currently ranked 43rd of 49 states (Hawaii does not have a Highway Patrol agency), a gap which is woefully inadequate to fair compensation. This abysmal ranking is one of the reasons that WHP is losing its best trained personnel to surrounding states, directly compromising our workforce stability. Wyoming has gotten itself into a deep hole that requires drastic action to dig itself out.
Furthermore, Wyoming lacks a true pay step increase program. When our employees receive a modest raise through state budgets, that’s the only one they get for years into the future. This structural deficiency, combined with the extreme pay lag, guarantees the competitive gap widens annually, trapping our personnel in insufficient compensation.
Our dedicated team at WHP has endured lean times for years now, often sacrificing personal income for the sake of public service. With the state’s improved income outlook this year, we believe now is the perfect time to fully invest in our state employees.
Wyoming Highway Patrol professionals are behind ALL other state employee classifications per Wyoming’s own A&I Human Resources Division 2024/2025 Jobs Report (pages 24-26) needing an average base pay increase of 26.1% to reach market parity.
I am reaching out to request your backing of the Governor’s budget plan. This funding is essential to ensuring our agency reaches the competitive standards set by the 2024 Market Policy Position (MPP).
Over the coming weeks, I will be sending more details regarding the impact of this crisis on our Troopers, Dispatchers, and Port of Entry Officers.
Thank you for your time, and for everything you do for Wyoming
| Sincerely, Matt Arnell President Wyoming Highway Patrol Association |
