Idaho State Police faces budget cuts
Published: Wednesday, February 4, 2009 5:02 PM MST
BOISE, (AP) -- The head of the Idaho State Police says projected funding cuts may mean fewer troopers patrolling state highways during the late night and early morning hours.
Col. Jerry Russell told state budget writers Tuesday the anticipated loss of state revenue for fiscal year 2010 is hitting the agency hard and forcing difficult choices for staffing, training, programs and equipment.
"We are now well beyond trimming fat, and we are cutting into the agency's bone and muscle," Russell said.
Among the cuts could be reductions or in some parts of the state elimination of the 24-hour patrol program.
Russell said one of the agency's successes in 2008 was a 97 percent increase in trooper contacts with motorists between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Having troopers on the road at those hours is critical to keeping tabs on drug trafficking, the movement of stolen goods and public safety.
"We have an obligation to be out there as much as we can, and some of that will be 24-hour coverage, whenever we can do that," he said. "With the reduction of funding, it's likely that those 24-hour patrols will be diminished, in some cases ceased altogether."
The ISP budget recommendations by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter call for an 8.2 percent cut from the general fund and a 5 percent cut overall. But Otter also supports adding at least three new positions to the agency's forensics division.
Otter also recommends most of the requested funding to move the department into its new regional office in Coeur d'Alene, which is expected to be completed in late June; $300,000 for conducting background checks for people with access to vulnerable adults or children in long-term care; and $25,000 to continue a special gang enforcement project with the U.S. attorney's office.
But the threat of reduced graveyard shift patrols has some lawmakers concerned.
"That's when people start moving their products," said Sen. Diane Bilyeu, D-Pocatello, referring to late night illegal drug dealing. "And (the Legislature) is determined to keep the public safe."
Capt. Eric Dayley, region commander of District 5 in southeast Idaho, said he's had to stretch his budget in recent years to assign at least two troopers to the overnight shift. Other shifts are typically staffed with up to five troopers.
With the budget holdbacks imposed this fiscal year, Dayley says he has left vacant several trooper jobs, leaving the district about 25 percent below its authorized staffing level.
"I don't know about the future," he said. "We're trying to do the best we can. Right now, we're not paying overtime. Any overtime they get, they have to take off."
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