Ellington

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The head of the Mississippi Highway Patrol says the agency is facing a major shortage of manpower and patrol cars.

Public Safety Commissioner Albert Santa Cruz tells WLBT-TV that there are 512 troopers in the entire state, which is 138 fewer than what the patrol is allotted.

The patrol is also short on patrol cars, and over half of the cars have more than 100,000 miles on them.

Cruz says officials are working with Gov. Phil Bryant to get new cars. In addition, they hope to get a patrol school in the next legislative session.