A new House review committee looks into the state Water Patrol Division's training methods

See Related Stories

9/21/2011: Radio Story - The Highway and Water Patrol merger supposed to save money for Missouri is really generating huge costs.

4/ 7/2010: Radio Story - A lot of talk about how to save the state from its budget crisis, and Wednesday, the House moved forward and then backward on Gov. Nixon's plan to merge the state's Water Patrol.

Intro:	A new House committee will investigate the state's Water Patrol in the wake of the Kansas City Star's report on a drowning at the Lake of the Ozarks.
RunTime:	0:47
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The Star reported that 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson drowned after a Water Patrol officer arrested him for intoxicated boating and he fell off of the boat at the lake in May.

The Star reported that the officer had just recently started patrolling the water.

South Central Missouri Representative Diane Franklin said they will investigate the Water Patrol since it merged with the Highway Patrol in 2011.

Actuality:	DIANE5.WAV
Run Time:	00:16
Description: "And I think that the events like that, there may be more in the state that I'm not aware of, just, you know, is the leverage that I think we need to look at this."

The committee will have its first public hearing in the coming weeks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.

Intro:	The 2011 Water and Highway Patrol merger is under investigation after a recent drowning.
RunTime:	0:35
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: An ex-state trooper will serve as the vice-chair of the House committee investigating the merger.

Southern Missouri Representative Don Phillips called into question the safety and training methods of the Water Patrol since the divisions merged.

Actuality:	DON6.WAV
Run Time:	00:14
Description: "It seems as though the opinion of most people is that the emphasis is on the highway safety and not on the water safety and I think that's evidenced of the fact that we're seeing more drownings than we've seen in quite some time."

The committee will hold its first public hearing in the coming weeks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.

Intro:	A House committee to investigate the state Water Patrol was created days after a Kansas City Star report on a drowning at the Lake of the Ozarks.
RunTime:	0:40
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: The Star reported that 20-year-old Brandon Ellingson drowned after he was arrested for intoxicated boating and fell off of the patrol boat at the lake in May.

A new review committee will investigate the safety and training of the Water Patrol and its officers since its 2011 merge with the State Highway Patrol.

Representative Diane Franklin will lead the committee.

Actuality:	DIANE6.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "Are we assuring the safety and law enforcement for those that use our waterways through this merger and from that savings?"

The committee will hold its first public hearing in the coming weeks.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Nicole Shaddy.