Wyoming Highway Patrol Faces 22% Vacancy Rate as New Chief Makes Hiring Top Priority

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 25, 2026

Newly appointed Wyoming Highway Patrol Col. KC Ramsey is prioritizing recruitment to fill 47 trooper vacancies and a nearly 40% dispatcher shortage — a 22% overall vacancy rate across the agency's 377 authorized positions. The hiring challenge reflects broader public-sector competition with private employers offering higher pay and more flexible hours, with fewer candidates interested in law enforcement careers. The state has moved on compensation, approving $111.79 million in salary adjustments to bring state employees closer to 2024 market levels, alongside a $2,000 hiring incentive for troopers, dispatchers, and port-of-entry staff. Ramsey's priorities — recruitment, retention, culture rebuilding, and succession planning — mirror challenges many public safety staffing operations face nationwide.