Wyoming Highway Patrol Association

04/09/2026

The Wyoming Law Enforcement Memorial Board is proud to announce a new partnership with the City of Cheyenne and Freedom Point Memorial Park.

Together, we are taking a meaningful step forward in honoring Wyoming’s fallen law enforcement officers and their families. With this partnership, we are resuming fundraising efforts to bring our long-awaited vision to life—a permanent bronze memorial dedicated to the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who gave their lives protecting our great State.

This memorial will stand as a place of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude—ensuring that the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice are never forgotten.

We are especially grateful for the continued support of the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association, along with other law enforcement organizations across the state, whose commitment strengthens this mission and honors those we have lost.

💙 Over 60 Wyoming Peace Officers have been lost in the line of duty. This memorial ensures their legacy lives on.

📍 Planned Location: Freedom Point Memorial Park, Cheyenne.

💰 Goal: $245,000 to complete the project, Funds paid towards the Bronze $24,500. We still have a considerable amount of money to raise to see this project come to fruition.

If you are interested in donating to the Wyoming Law Enforcement Memorial, Inc., we are a 501©(3) so your donation is tax deductible.
Our address is:
Wyoming Law Enforcement Memorial, Inc.​​
P.O. Box 1245
Cheyenne, WY 82003

We invite Wyoming to stand with us as we bring this tribute to life and honor those who have served us and made the ultimate sacrifice.

03/09/2026

Thank you for your help Wyoming!
A Victory for Wyoming:
Strengthening Our State Through Fair Compensation
On behalf of the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association (WHPA), I am writing today with a profound sense of gratitude. Recently, we concluded a focused legislative campaign with a singular goal: to ensure that the dedicated men and women who serve Wyoming are compensated fairly for the vital work they do.

We are proud to share that, thanks to the overwhelming support of the citizens we serve, our state leaders have taken a significant step forward. By moving state employee compensation closer to the 2024 Market Pay Policy (MPP), Wyoming has signaled that it values the professionals who keep our state running, safe, and secure.

Why the 2024 MPP Matters:
For those unfamiliar with the term, the “Market Pay Policy” is essentially the benchmark for what a job is worth in today’s economy. For too long, Wyoming’s state salaries, including those of our Troopers, Dispatchers, and Port of Entry professionals, had fallen behind, based on outdated 2022 market data.

Closing this gap was never just about a paycheck; it was a fundamental investment in our collective safety. By prioritizing competitive pay, we move further towards ensuring there are enough Troopers on the road to respond when you call, helping to keep experienced Dispatchers behind the console during emergencies, and retaining seasoned inspectors at our Ports of Entry. Furthermore, this move demonstrates fiscal responsibility by helping reduce the high cost of turnover and preventing the loss of taxpayer-funded training to neighboring states. A Community Effort.

While our association carried the message to Cheyenne, it was the voice of the Wyoming people that truly resonated in the halls of the Capitol. We heard from families, business owners, and neighbors who reached out to their legislators to say that public safety is a priority.

Yours and the Governor’s support provided the momentum we needed. Because you stood with us, we can now better recruit the next generation of “Guardians of the Cowboy State” and retain the veteran experts who provide mentorship and leadership within our ranks.

Our Promise to You:
To the citizens of Wyoming: We do not take your support for granted. As we move closer to market competitive compensation, our commitment to you remains unchanged. We will continue to patrol with pride, respond with urgency, and serve with the unwavering professionalism you expect and deserve.

Even during the most “trying times,” the bond between the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the communities we protect has remained unbreakable. Thank you for recognizing our work, valuing our families, and helping us secure a safer future for every traveler on our roads.

Thank you, Wyoming, for riding for the brand with us.

Matt Arnell
President
Wyoming Highway Patrol Association

Thank you for your help Wyoming! A Victory for Wyoming:Strengthening Our State Through Fair Compensation On behalf of the Wyoming Highway Patrol Association (WHPA), I am writing today with a profound sense of gratitude. Recently, we concluded a focused legislative campaign with a singular goal: to e...

03/01/2026

Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers deserve more than praise
https://wystatetroopers.org/wyoming-highway-patrol-troopers-deserve-more-than-praise/

I am writing to you as a former Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper, a graduate of WHP Class 91, and someone who proudly began my law enforcement career serving the people of Wyoming. I served in Jackson Hole and later Gillette, and I did so with commitment, professionalism, and pride in wearing the uniform of the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

I no longer serve the State of Wyoming—not because I wanted to leave, but because the State made it increasingly impossible to stay.

Read more by clicking the link above...

Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers deserve more than praise by WHPA | Feb 9, 2026 | , WHP Employee Articles | 0 comments I am writing to you as a former Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper, a graduate of WHP Class 91, and someone who proudly began my law enforcement career serving the people of ...

02/28/2026

Why I’m Job Hunting...
https://wystatetroopers.org/why-im-job-hunting/

I’ve been with the Wyoming Highway Patrol for a number of years. Some would describe me as being about halfway through a “typical” duration law enforcement career. Someone else wrote that the Highway Patrol is “bleeding.” Many of us used to say we “bleed green” to describe our undying loyalty to the agency and the love of the job. However, our issues have compounded to such a point that I am now doing something I never thought I would do – I have been submitting applications elsewhere. Loyalty and love don’t pay my mortgage or put food on my table. And forget about having the audacity to dream of a trip with your family that you can pay for in cash vs having to finance – that’s not happening. I’ve seen some commentary on how our issues sound like a leadership problem vs a compensation problem.

Read more at the link above...

Why I’m Job Hunting by WHPA | Feb 26, 2026 | , WHP Employee Articles | 0 comments Why I’m Job Hunting I’ve been with the Wyoming Highway Patrol for a number of years. Some would describe me as being about halfway through a “typical” duration law enforcement career. Someone else ...

02/26/2026

Why I'm Staying...
https://wystatetroopers.org/why-im-staying/

I have spent several weeks debating whether I should put these thoughts into words. If you are reading this, you know what I decided.

I have been in law enforcement since 2010. I started at 22 years old in a small rural Midwestern city of about 4,500 people. From there, I moved to a small county Sheriff’s Office that had a higher crime rate per capita than cities like Saint Louis or Chicago. I served that community for eight years. In 2014 alone, I was the first responding Deputy to two separate double homicides. The work was steady, dangerous, and often done alone. I was fortunate to come through those years physically and mentally stronger than when I began.

Read more at the link above.

Why I’m Staying by WHPA | Feb 26, 2026 | , WHP Employee Articles | 0 comments I have spent several weeks debating whether I should put these thoughts into words. If you are reading this, you know what I decided. I have been in law enforcement since 2010. I started at 22 years old in a s...

02/20/2026

We Need Your Help Wyoming... https://whpmatters.org

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is facing enormous problems that have been growing for many years, with no end in sight. Now, WHP is paying a heavy price. Each year, our state government promises to address the issues and each year the issues get worse.

We need to your help to pass the Governor's budget proposal to bring all Wyoming state employees up to the 2024 MPP standard.
Let the legislature know that . Find out how you can help at our campaign page link above.

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02/19/2026

Wyoming Employee Crisis
https://wystatetroopers.org/wyoming-employee-crisis/

To the Citizens and Leaders of Wyoming,

The State of Wyoming finds itself at a crossroads regarding how it supports its employees. While the people of Wyoming take great pride in our rich heritage of Western lifestyles and traditions, there is an opportunity for us to create a new tradition—one where State Employees feel truly valued and fairly compensated. Historically, Wyoming has struggled to provide fair and equitable wages for its employees. On rare occasions when pay adjustments are made, employees often find themselves with little net gain due to increases in mandatory contributions to retirement or insurance plans. By working together, we can strengthen our workforce, honor the commitment of State Employees, and set a positive example for the rest of the nation.

Click the link above to read more...

Wyoming Employee Crisis by Craig Fernandez | Feb 17, 2026 | , WHP Employee Articles | 0 comments To the Citizens and Leaders of Wyoming, The State of Wyoming finds itself at a crossroads regarding how it supports its employees. While the people of Wyoming take great pride in our rich heri...

02/18/2026

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is bleeding.
https://wystatetroopers.org/the-wyoming-highway-patrol-is-bleeding/

I never thought I would say that. And I hate that I’m saying now.

The Wyoming Highway Patrol was founded in 1933. We are just seven short years away from our 100 year anniversary. At this rate, we may not make it. And if we do, we may only be a shell of what we should be.

The public overwhelmingly supports the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and we are grateful for each and everyone of you that do. But the full story is rarely told and even more rarely understood. Wyoming’s Troopers are grossly underpaid, understaffed, and overworked.

Click the link above to read more...

The Wyoming Highway Patrol Is Bleeding by Craig Fernandez | Feb 5, 2026 | , WHP Employee Articles | 0 comments I never thought I would say that. And I hate that I’m saying now. The Wyoming Highway Patrol was founded in 1933. We are just seven short years away from our 100 year anniversa...

02/17/2026

The Thinning Blue Line...
https://wystatetroopers.org/the-thinning-blue-line/

I am the wife of a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper. For years, I’ve watched my husband pour his heart into this badge. Nights away from our children, missed family moments, the quiet dread before every call out because he believed in what it stood for. Honor. Service. A promise to keep Wyoming safe. But lately, reading the raw, heartbreaking stories online, I feel sick with disbelief. How did we get here? How has an agency that once felt like family turned into something so broken, so unrecognizable?

The Thinning Blue Line by Craig Fernandez | Feb 17, 2026 | , WHP Employee Articles | 0 comments I am the wife of a Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper. For years, I’ve watched my husband pour his heart into this badge. Nights away from our children, missed family moments, the quiet dread bef...

02/16/2026

A Dispatcher’s Perspective…
https://wystatetroopers.org/a-dispatchers-perspective/

Money isn't everything but it is connected to everything.

In the WHP dispatch center we have dispatchers in all stages of life. We have baby dispatchers fresh out of high school, barely legal to drink, dispatchers starting families, already raising kids, dispatchers with no kids, ones who have grandkids and dispatchers ready to retire. One thing we can all agree on is that we are under compensated. It is not a mismanagement of money as it affects all of us across the board, whether we have kids or not, whether we are married or not.

I spoke to my brothers and sisters in dispatch to ask how our compensation has effected them, not being up with cost of living and one thing we can agree on is we are not THRIVING we are SURVIING. Here is a list of answers I rec’d from my fellow dispatchers when i asked how our compensation effected them.

Click above to read more...

A Dispatcher’s Perspective… by Craig Fernandez | Feb 4, 2026 | , WHP Employee Articles | 0 comments Money isnt everything but it is connected to everything.  In the WHP dispatch center we have dispatchers in all stages of life. We have baby dispatchers fresh out of highschool, barely...

02/15/2026

We Need Your Help Wyoming... https://whpmatters.org

Visit our page at the link above. Educate yourself about the issues we face. Help us get the word out, and use our tools to let the legislature know that WHP Matters.

We Need Your Help Wyoming...   The Wyoming Highway Patrol is facing enormous problems that have been growing for many years, with no end in sight. Now, WHP is paying a heavy price. Each year, our state government promises to address the issues and each year the issues get worse. This hu...