A recent public opinion survey gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol an approval rating of more than 90 percent.
Col. Sandra K. Karsten, superintendent of the patrol, released the results last week of the 2017 Public Opinion Survey. 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 July 1-31. 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.
Results from the survey included:
• 91.2 percent of respondents gave the patrol a good or excellent overall rating.
• 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.
• 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 patrol. Detecting/deterring the flow of illegal drugs and traffic crash investigation were identified as very important duties of the patrol by 70.4 percent and 69 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,” Karsten said. “We take our mission seriously, and your feedback will help us evaluate how we answer the call to serve and protect.”