WSAZ INVESTIGATION: Trooper Resignations Increase Under Lemmon
WSAZ INVESTIGATION: Trooper Resignations Increase Under Lemmon Save Email Print
Posted: 9:36 AM Aug 9, 2007
 Last Updated: 12:11 PM Aug 10, 2007
 Reporter: Mike Waterhouse
Email Address: mike.waterhouse@wsaz.com
22 comments
More West Virginia State Troopers have resigned in two of the three years Colonel Dave Lemmon has served as superintendent than in any other single year in the last decade, statistics show.

Through the Freedom of Information Act, WSAZ obtained employment information from the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) for the last 10 years (1997-2007). WSAZ filed the request after allegations were made about the current administration in the public comment section of WSAZ.com following the suicide of Corporal Marlo Gonzales.

The data shows a surge of resignations starting in 2005, the year Governor Joe Manchin appointed Colonel Lemmon superintendent. Nineteen troopers resigned that year, the highest in a ten year period from 1997 to 2007. 2007 has been the second highest year for resignations in this period with 17 so far this year. Three happened after July 17th, the day Corporal Gonzales died.

No troopers were fired in the three years leading up to Lemmon's appointment; but since 2005, eight troopers have been terminated -- more than a third of all fired in the 1997 to 2007 time period. The most troopers fired in a single year since 1997 was in 2001 when six troopers were terminated.

In 2003, the state police lost the most amount of average experience, according to the data supplied by the WVSP. Troopers who resigned that year had an average of more than seven years with the agency. The lowest amount of average experience was 4.24 years in 2004.

The two troopers terminated this year each had more than 17 years on the job. The next most experienced trooper fired had a little more than three years experience.

The information WSAZ received does not specify why each trooper resigned or was terminated.

WSAZ also requested the number of transfers between all detachments in the state for the last decade, but the WVSP says there is no specific record kept of those. However, since July 18th, there has been one permanent transfer and two temporary transfers.

Since Gonzales' suicide, Governor Joe Manchin called for the creation of a team to study trooper suicides. The four person group will look at the policies in place that deal with apparent and hidden behavioral health issues. They will also look at what other states with similar state police configurations do with regard to suicides.

The team expects to be finished in about two weeks.

CLICK HERE for the original story about Gonzales' suicide with more than 900 comments.

Here's the raw data:
Figures do not include cadets who resigned during training at the State Police Academy.

(1) Number of resignations & terminations per year:

Year Resignations Terminations
1997101
199893
1999103
200071
2001116
2002160
200390
200490
2005194
2006152
2007
to 7/17		142
2007
7/18-8/8		30


(2) Years of service breakdown.
WSAZ also requested the amount of time each trooper who resigned or was terminated had when he/she left the department. This data was only available for the last five years (2002-2007). Note that probationary troopers have less than 18 months of service.

2002 RESIGNATIONS
Years Months
Trooper 131
Trooper 223
Trooper 375
Trooper 469
Trooper 534
Trooper 634
Trooper 777
Trooper 836
Trooper 927
Trooper 1037
Trooper 1138
Trooper 1274
Trooper 13211
Trooper 1439
Trooper 1551
Trooper 1671
Average seniority: 4.52 years

2002 TERMINATIONS
None

2003 RESIGNATIONS
Years Months
Trooper 130
Trooper 2140
Trooper 384
Trooper 458
Trooper 5110
Trooper 6510
Trooper 737
Trooper 884
Trooper 9311
Average seniority: 7.07 years

2003 TERMINATIONS
None

2004 RESIGNATIONS
Years Months
Trooper 140
Trooper 279
Trooper 314
Trooper 409
Trooper 599
Trooper 692
Trooper 717
Trooper 8111
Trooper 9111
Average seniority: 4.24 years

2004 TERMINATIONS
None

2005 RESIGNATIONS
Years Months
Trooper 114
Trooper 253
Trooper 314
Trooper 415
Trooper 553
Trooper 696
Trooper 759
Trooper 8102
Trooper 9111
Trooper 10610
Trooper 11610
Trooper 12155
Trooper 1358
Trooper 14911
Trooper 1544
Trooper 1679
Trooper 17112
Trooper 1836
Trooper 19107
Average seniority: 6.48 years

2005 TERMINATIONS
Years Months
Trooper 114
Trooper 211
Trooper 320
Trooper 413


2006 RESIGNATIONS
Years Months
Trooper 1103
Trooper 261
Trooper 317
Trooper 4116
Trooper 532
Trooper 676
Trooper 709
Trooper 869
Trooper 936
Trooper 1079
Trooper 11711
Trooper 12010
Trooper 1323
Trooper 14010
Trooper 1565
Average seniority: 5.14 years

2006 TERMINATIONS
Years Months
Trooper 109
Trooper 235


2007 RESIGNATIONS
(up until 7/17/07)
Years Months
Trooper 173
Trooper 210
Trooper 333
Trooper 410
Trooper 51311
Trooper 615
Trooper 715
Trooper 884
Trooper 935
Trooper 101410
Trooper 11210
Trooper 1209
Trooper 1377
Trooper 1476


2007 TERMINATIONS
(up until 7/17/07)
Years Months
Trooper 1171
Trooper 2186


2007 RESIGNATIONS
(7/18/07 to 8/6/07)
Years Months
Trooper 199
Trooper 2123
Trooper 3110
Average seniority (for all of 2007): 5.78 years

2007 TERMINATIONS
(7/18/07 to 8/6/07)
None


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Posted by: Janey on Oct 8, 2008 at 08:13 PM
I have a situation that has been ongoing for about three years and involves the misuse of funds by a trustee of three minor children...the state trooper said he "did not know what to charge the man with". I thought the SP knew more than that or at least had resources to find out. All I get out of the law enforcement is passing the buck because they have not had this happen before. Meanwhile these children's estate is being misused. This is a prime example of not helping the public..it seems the only thing they know is meth cases or something they can't ignore because it is a high profile crime. Also, it takes sometimes two hours for a SP to show up. They also sometimes do not show up at all and they don't return phone calls even when made through the Charleston office. It makes me wonder if these kind of things are the reason these troopers are being dismissed.
Posted by: Joe on Aug 25, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Turnover?????????? 17 in 1 year! Check out the Corrections turnover rate! try 17 a month...oh..and that's from one facility. The earlier comment about the worst of the worst every day....that isn't really accurate..SP do get to interact with some good people..or at least i thought that they were also supposed to help the good citizens or was that a trooper post showing their mightier than thow attitude toward the rest of us law abiding citizens. It isn't the individuals..it is the agency...the SP has ran unchecked forever and it shows. Hey..WSAZ..do a were are they now seg for the "retirees" how many have nice appointed positions where they can draw their retirement and continue to get a NICE check from the state (double dipping) for whatever state job they have now. The rest of the state employees would love the opportunity..but sadly we'll all work until old age before we can retire and those of us that could move on to another state job must stop drawing our massive ret check
Posted by: Sher on Aug 19, 2007 at 01:29 AM
one trooper served our country in the military (yes was in battle), then spent 17 plus years as a WV Sate Trooper and was terminated because he brought to light the infidelity of a superior. Uhmmm there is something wrong with this picture. I worked for the state and either you are in or you are not---I also found a better job not financially better but mentally better. Staying true to what is right, staying true to myself means more than money to me. Law enforcement cannot be just if it centers around a cliche.
Posted by: Tired of Stupidity on Aug 15, 2007 at 04:10 PM
To Joseph:For you to even mention the obsurd comment that 50% of dui accidents are caused by cops or family only PROVES your stupidity and ignorance!!!!! That is sooo wrong and there is no basis for that comment at all and just proves to us that you have have either had a dui accident or been arrested several times for the same and you are sad and pitiful as to blame someone else..... Speak or write facts ....fine....there are plenty of cops who have also made the same mistakes as others and its true that should of course know better.....but throwing out outrageously stupid comments like that defeats the good citizens arguments!!!!
Posted by: JOSEPH on Aug 14, 2007 at 07:32 PM
CONTINUED...THAT DRUNK OFF DUTY COP WAS LET GO FROM ONE MUNICIPALITY AND REHIRED BY THE JERSEY CITY PD WHERE HIS COUSIN HAPPENS TO BE MAYOR. 50% OF ALL DWI ACCIDENTS ARE CAUSED BY OFF DUTY COPS OR A FAMILY MEMBER ,OR A FRIEND WHAT HAS A SHIELD OR PBA CARDS WHICH I THINK THEY SHOULD GET RID OF. ALL THEY DO IS MAKE THAT PERSON THINK THEY CAN SPPED OR DRIVE DRUNK AND GET AWAY WITH IT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE RELATED TO A POLICE OFFICER. IF THEY GET RID OF THOSE LICENCES TO SPEED I GAURANTEE YOU THAT THE ACCIDENT RATE WOULD BE REDUCED DRASTICALLY IN THE STATE OF NJ . WHICH HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN RECENT YEARS.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 14, 2007 at 01:36 PM
To:Andrea E.>>>>>>.......All of the research that I need to know about is now in a grave in Hurricane.....Lemmon has to go...
Posted by: ARCLITE on Aug 12, 2007 at 10:56 AM
Law Enforcement is a unique job in which an officer is forced to make life altering decisions from anything from a ticket to taking someones life. Other than the military or fire department, they understand that the job requires that they respond to a situation which may cost them their lives or health. Many calls are ones that never make the news. For instance there are calls of domestics in which the dispatcher advised the suspect is armed and will shoot the first officer he/she sees. I for one think "great, I am going to die because these people can't get along." I still go. I don't want to, but I have to. Adrenaline goes up, then crashes down. I hate it. After 14 years of this I would love to have what I would consider a normal job. But I will wait until I am eligable to retire first. Many people in the WVSP decide to move on to better jobs. The turn over ratio has become higher. One reason is because of our leadership, but there are a multitude of other reasons.
Posted by: To Xenia on Aug 11, 2007 at 07:35 PM
Your comment was one of the most intelligent and respectful comments I have seen on this issue so far, it is a comment like yours that will get respect and attention. Thank you
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 11, 2007 at 05:27 PM
We believe that Scott VanMeter should be in charge. He is so good and everyone should listen to him. He gives good advise.
Posted by: Cathy Roush on Aug 11, 2007 at 05:21 PM
You really need to check out why these troopers were fired.I live in new haven wv in mason county.Some of the troopers here grew up here"and I use the term grew-up lightly".There were spoiled rotten brats.When ever they didn't get there way in school sports or anything else for that matter they would go crying to mommy.All they want to do is ride up and down the road flirting with young girls and handing out tickets to teenagers and middle aged women.I think it is a major embarrassment having state troopers like this.
Posted by: Xenia on Aug 11, 2007 at 01:29 PM
Whichever side you are on in this issue, one thing is clear. It is time to take action and start listening to people. Just because you wear a uniform does not mean you sacrifice your rights to health, and that includes mental health. This issue is about treating your employees as you want your employees to treat you. both sides have valid points and before critizing or blaming, let's see what they are and take the steps to correct them. No one is perfect but everyone who puts on a uniform and puts their life on the line for others, deserves a voice and appreciation for a job not many would tackle. Any time someone ends their life, we have all failed unless we did everything we could to help them in their darkest hour. Mental health needs to be the focus not only for law enforcement, but for everyone. It wasn't too long ago we saw the results of mental distress that was ignored (VA TECH). Let us all reach out to help and use our voice for compassion, not hatred.
Posted by: W.V.Tax payer on Aug 10, 2007 at 06:00 PM
We shouldn't come down on Col.Lemmon and this adminstration until we know why these Troopers were terminated.Maybe the previous adminstration was lax.One thing I know for sure is that there are still a lot of Troopers out there who need to be fired.I know Troopers who have been on the job 18 or 19 years that have never had any business being Troopers from day one.I for one am glad someone is finally doing some thing aboult it.Think you Col.Lemmon.
Posted by: Bill W. on Aug 10, 2007 at 05:20 PM
With these stats, it would appear that the administration is melting down the troops to fit the administration’s own agenda. Too many troops haven’t fallen in line with the new, unwritten, standards. “Do as I say, not as I do”. Just let us tell you what to do as we go along. Regulations are being changed on a daily basis, it’s just where the regulations fit the administration best. Where favoritism goes farther than standards. Like standards for Southern, WV vs. Standards for the rest of the state. Things are rough down South. What did they do wrong? I have a great amount of respect for the troops our here. None will be discourteous when the same respect is extended to them. These men and women see the worst of the worst every day. And after being subjected to the messes they have to deal with, and then are sent out on the road to meet quotas.Now how would anyone feel after seeing and dealing with what they have to face off the road, and then have to listen to discourteous motorists?
Posted by: Bill W. Continued on Aug 10, 2007 at 05:11 PM
Just a suggestion: When you are stopped, pulled over, or otherwise approched aby a police officer, get your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Your life and their’s is at risk when on the edge of pavement. The same “one inch” factor applies here as well. Make every effort to avoid any standing water [mud holes,etc.] where an officer may have to walk, or stand in, place both hands in plain view upon the steering wheel. Have all passengers be very still. If at night, turn the inside dome light on in order that the officer can see there is likely no danger to them. Do not reach into any areas, such as the glove box, until asked to provide required information.(Law enforcement officers, please correct me if I’m wrong on any suggestions here. And please add any comments you may have to better assist both the motorists and yourself). Ladies and gentlemen, would you like to walk up to the vehicle window, to a total stranger,not knowing what they may have on them, or at a hands reach?
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 10, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Why were these a Troopers terminated.It looks to me like Col.Lemmon is cleaning up the WVSP and I think he's doing a great job.I know some of the Troopers that have been terminated or who have resigned.The WVSP is a lot better off without them and I'm sure that the State of WV is a lot safer without them.
Posted by: Tiffany on Aug 10, 2007 at 08:36 AM
I agree with MM. I tell you if 14 police officers resign in a 7 month span, you can't just blame the officers. Sure there needs to be research on why so many are resign or terminated and though some may do because they want to or were for just cause the number seem to be pretty high for it not be some type of issue in the main office.
Posted by: Dear WSAZ on Aug 10, 2007 at 08:22 AM
Another way they work the numbers is to use 'discharge' instead of termination. Please look into these #'s. I KNOW for a fact, there are more troopers who were discharged than listed especially in 2003/2004.
Posted by: me on Aug 9, 2007 at 08:36 PM
I know why one was terminated in 2007, and the reason is rediculous. If it was a legitimate reason for termination (and it wasn't) 3/4th of the US workforce would be terminated.
Posted by: MM on Aug 9, 2007 at 12:48 PM
There is something wrong with terminating folks with 17 years of experience, regardless of what research still needs to be done. I watched previous news bits on this story where ex-troopers were speaking, and it was VERY apparent that there are some things in the administration needing investigation. The most recent trooper I met was a very kind, caring individual. I've had similar experiences with others. I couldn't imagine that any of these men and women could do something to merit termination.
Posted by: tired troop on Aug 9, 2007 at 11:34 AM
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THE POWERS TO BE TO START THEIR DAMAGE CONTROL AND SPINNING THEIR LIES HERE TOO. A GOOD USED CAR SALESMAN CAN ALWAYS TWIST THE NUMBERS AROUND TO THE WAY THEY WANT THEM TO SEEM.
Posted by: Jay on Aug 9, 2007 at 11:03 AM
It appears like your governor has made WV look like Mayberry RFD. He keeps appointing more of his cronies and making WV look like the Barney and Andy show!
Posted by: Andrea E. on Aug 9, 2007 at 10:35 AM
I know Dave Lemmon and maybe he is just cleaning up the State Police force, you may point out all of the statistics, but there is no information posted on the policemen in question. If more research would be done, I promise the public would see why these employees were relieved of there duties. Before you judge someone, do your research.
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