DURANT, OKLAHOMA - Oklahoma Highway patrol along with other safety agencies work everyday to keep people safe. But after steep budget cuts over the past few years, officials are asking lawmakers for more funding.

From tragic accidents to cracking down on drunk drivers, public safety officials in Oklahoma work around the clock to keep people out of harm's way.

"We don't just respond to crashes, we go out and work normal patrol traffic, we stop speeders, we work crashes, we arrest drunks and make drug busts," said Trooper BJ Keeling.

But now top officials in public safety agencies like OHP, Department of Corrections and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are in desperate need of more funding after steep cuts slashed their budgets by millions -- affecting the amount of manpower in our communities.

"Right now in Troop E we're down about seven troopers that's just here in Troop E alone, its like that all over the state," said Keeling.

The state's commissioner of Public Safety said the number of troopers on Oklahoma highways is the lowest its been in nearly two decades.
But many local troopers have found alternative ways to make up for the lack of resources.

"With manpower being low like that we're taking a strong enforcement action on seat belts speeders, DUI to increase the knowledge that it's not smart to use your cellphone and operate a car or its not smart to drink and drive," said Keeling.