State Considers Dropping Troopers

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - State Considers Dropping Troopers

Posted: 8/22/2006 11:13:50 AM EDT

State considers getting rid of Oregon troopers

08:55 AM PDT on Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Associated Press

ALBANY, Ore. -- State officials have begun a study to see whether county sheriff's offices could take over the patrol division of the Oregon State Police to reduce the budget for troopers.

The study ordered by the 2005 Legislature starts as Gov. Ted Kulongoski and other government leaders talk about increasing the size of the state police.

Kulongoski, who is seeking re-election, said early this month he wanted to find a way to add 125 troopers to a patrol division now down to 333 troopers -- less than half the number the division had in 1979 when Oregon had a million fewer people.

Ron Saxton, the Republican candidate for governor, has pledged to double the size of the state police "to ensure that Oregon's roads are patrolled day and night."

A group of 12 legislators including Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany, a retired state police lieutenant, plan to meet in Salem this week to continue discussions about increasing the number of troopers while finding a stable or dedicated source of funding.

Olson dismissed the need for the study about turning over the patrol division role to sheriff's departments. Olson said the sheriffs he had talked to do not want the added responsibility.

"It's not going to work," Olson said.

The study was ordered in a budget note by the public safety subcommittee of the Joint Ways and Means Committee in 2005. Lawmakers said they wanted a report on "the potential benefits, costs, and impacts of transferring all or a portion of the activities of the Patrol Division to county sheriffs."

According to the budget note, the activities to be covered are traffic enforcement, including stopping drunken drivers, truck safety inspections and catching drug runners.

In addition, the study is to examine transferring enforcement of game laws from the state police to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Linda Gilbert of the Department of Administrative Services and Doug Wilson in the legislative budget office have begun gathering information for the study, talking to eight of the 36 Oregon sheriffs so far. They have asked all 36 to respond to written questions about deputy pay, training schedules and the hours deputies are deployed, Gilbert said last week.

They also plan to check how other states organize their law enforcement. A report is expected by January.

WTF?

Posted: 8/22/2006 11:22:13 AM EDT

[#1]

Doesn't surprise me. Maybe Oregon can start a "Medical Meth" program with the money we save.

Posted: 8/22/2006 11:56:21 AM EDT

[#2]

This is just dumping a bunch of the state costs onto the counties. I don't see how the counties would agree to this.

Posted: 8/22/2006 11:58:44 AM EDT

[#3]

I'm not sure that they would have to agree.

Posted: 8/22/2006 12:22:41 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
This is just dumping a bunch of the state costs onto the counties. I don't see how the counties would agree to this.

When this issue was first brought up about a year ago the OSP was going to divert their patrol funding to the counties to cover the expense.

Posted: 8/22/2006 12:23:07 PM EDT

[#5]

No extra gas money from county taxes means no extra highway patrols.

Yes, this is just state dumping their budget problem on the counties.

Maybe next ODOT responsibilities can be transferred to county maintenance.

Posted: 8/22/2006 12:52:16 PM EDT

[#6]

Do we really need MORE troopers on the roads?

I mean, I've never seen more cops on the road than here or Washington. At times it stops feeling "safe" and more like "oppressive".

Now this is just for the locals and not usually the state.

That aside, I do agree that this is just a "save costs on the state by charging the counties".

Posted: 8/22/2006 1:13:22 PM EDT

[#7]

Depends where you live NoAim.

I haven't seen a cop car drive through Beavercreek in prolly 3 years.

Posted: 8/22/2006 1:16:24 PM EDT

[#8]

Wether or not it's intrusive/obtrusive or oppresive, ya'll need to think about how the hell your county is going to fund this........MORE TAXES

Posted: 8/22/2006 1:54:54 PM EDT

[#9]

What? They're cutting the "seat belt" police?
That will cut into the state's revenue.

Posted: 8/22/2006 2:02:49 PM EDT

[#10]

It's a shame when L.E. is viewed as a gov't revenue generating entity vs. solving crime and protecting the citizenry it has sworn to do... <cough> Coburg <cough>

Posted: 8/22/2006 2:39:31 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Depends where you live NoAim.

I haven't seen a cop car drive through Beavercreek in prolly 3 years.

Last weekend the wife and I took a "family and friends" road trip.. drove up 97 from Bend to Biggs, then up 84 to La Grande. From there out 84 to Boise, then back to Bend via Burns on Hwy 20. I saw two cops the entire trip, and one of them was in Idaho. Several major highways, and not one OSP trooper to be seen.

Posted: 8/22/2006 3:29:54 PM EDT

[#12]

Guy's they bring this issue out every year or so,to scare us into more and higher taxes. Or to scare us into not voting for any kind of tax cuts or caps.

Posted: 8/22/2006 4:56:41 PM EDT

[#13]

or into letting Tax Colonostopy, keep our kickers.

Posted: 8/22/2006 6:13:54 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Depends where you live NoAim.

I haven't seen a cop car drive through Beavercreek in prolly 3 years.

Last weekend the wife and I took a "family and friends" road trip.. drove up 97 from Bend to Biggs, then up 84 to La Grande. From there out 84 to Boise, then back to Bend via Burns on Hwy 20. I saw two cops the entire trip, and one of them was in Idaho. Several major highways, and not one OSP trooper to be seen.

Agreed. But what I see where I live (Hillsboro/Sunset Corridor) the guys on the highways, side streets are almost all city (Tigard, Beaverton, Aloha, Hillsboro). I see the WA County Sheriffs out on patrol (not too often setting speed traps) a bit less. Very rarely do I see the State Troopers out.

So, it sounds like in this area, they're already at that point.

However, I'm not blind to the fact that Portland != rest of Oregon. In the expanses between major cities/towns there is little police. I still feel that Portland is "over policed" and would not be affected by this measure.

Now in little redneck towns like Roseburg (

) this could be a major drain on county funds.

Posted: 8/22/2006 6:53:35 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Guy's they bring this issue out every year or so,to scare us into more and higher taxes. Or to scare us into not voting for any kind of tax cuts or caps.

This is more BS from Teddy TaxAndGougeMe & Crew, in an attempt to justify raising
taxes. They are just dumping the problem on the counties who will have to raise
property taxes to pay for additional officers. The Gov. & Legislature are doing nothing more than squandering taxpayer's money.

Spambo

Posted: 8/22/2006 7:04:43 PM EDT

[#16]

Am I the only one who's gonna ask what a "TROPPER" is???

Portland metro is damn near infested with da Popo....but when I drove to Medford back in January..( I know, awhile ago..)..I can honestly say I ony saw 4 Cops the whole trip...

Posted: 8/22/2006 8:39:39 PM EDT

[#17]

I swear this idea gets floated by the state every 6 months.

I think that this may be a prelude to the state cutting the troppers. There could easilly cut them in some areas like the portland metro area. They are not like CHP, anywhere near portland the local agencies pretty much take care of the highways.

But in some of the more rural areas, it would be a huge hit... In Harney County where there are only 5 deputies, the however many OSP guys are in the area probably make quite a difference, plus... how the hell are they going to get enough funds from the state to make up the difference of 2/3rds or their force?

Quoted:
Do we really need MORE troopers on the roads?

I mean, I've never seen more cops on the road than here or Washington. At times it stops feeling "safe" and more like "oppressive".

Now this is just for the locals and not usually the state.

That aside, I do agree that this is just a "save costs on the state by charging the counties".

I think there are only 3 troopers in the area you live in, what are you bitching about?

Posted: 8/22/2006 9:56:27 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I swear this idea gets floated by the state every 6 months.

I think that this may be a prelude to the state cutting the troppers. There could easilly cut them in some areas like the portland metro area. They are not like CHP, anywhere near portland the local agencies pretty much take care of the highways.

But in some of the more rural areas, it would be a huge hit... In Harney County where there are only 5 deputies, the however many OSP guys are in the area probably make quite a difference, plus... how the hell are they going to get enough funds from the state to make up the difference of 2/3rds or their force?

Quoted:
Do we really need MORE troopers on the roads?

I mean, I've never seen more cops on the road than here or Washington. At times it stops feeling "safe" and more like "oppressive".

Now this is just for the locals and not usually the state.

That aside, I do agree that this is just a "save costs on the state by charging the counties".

I think there are only 3 troopers in the area you live in, what are you bitching about?

It's all those damn county guys!

Posted: 8/23/2006 6:24:24 AM EDT

[#19]

so this guy won't have a job anymore?

Posted: 8/23/2006 6:41:22 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Depends where you live NoAim.

I haven't seen a cop car drive through Beavercreek in prolly 3 years.

Last weekend the wife and I took a "family and friends" road trip.. drove up 97 from Bend to Biggs, then up 84 to La Grande. From there out 84 to Boise, then back to Bend via Burns on Hwy 20. I saw two cops the entire trip, and one of them was in Idaho. Several major highways, and not one OSP trooper to be seen.

Yea but did you see me? Or Patty for that matter?
My point is there the odds of you seeing the handful of troopers patrolling that area are slim unless they are just parked. Like county, state answers calls. They also play other rolls, like fish and game here in HR. Just becaseu you didnt see them does not mean they are not there or you didnt drive right by one.

My last road trip to Joeseph I can honestly say I seen 2 cops and one was at the shoot! But I know they were out there.

Posted: 8/23/2006 10:22:30 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
....
Yea but did you see me? ...

See you,,,, someone took a picture of you

Posted: 8/23/2006 10:55:54 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:
....
Yea but did you see me? ...

See you,,,, someone took a picture of you

www.liquorsnob.com/archives/pictures/Super-Troopers-thumb.jpg

Because only I am MAN enough to take full power shot to the nads and walk away...

Indians, they will never learn!

Posted: 8/23/2006 12:41:14 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:

Quoted:
....
Yea but did you see me? ...

See you,,,, someone took a picture of you

www.liquorsnob.com/archives/pictures/Super-Troopers-thumb.jpg

Because only I am MAN enough to take full power shot to the nads and walk away...

Indians, they will never learn!

(I thought you always bent over when the full power shot was coming?)

Posted: 8/23/2006 12:51:28 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Depends where you live NoAim.

I haven't seen a cop car drive through Beavercreek in prolly 3 years.

Last weekend the wife and I took a "family and friends" road trip.. drove up 97 from Bend to Biggs, then up 84 to La Grande. From there out 84 to Boise, then back to Bend via Burns on Hwy 20. I saw two cops the entire trip, and one of them was in Idaho. Several major highways, and not one OSP trooper to be seen.

Yea but did you see me? Or Patty for that matter?
My point is there the odds of you seeing the handful of troopers patrolling that area are slim unless they are just parked. Like county, state answers calls. They also play other rolls, like fish and game here in HR. Just becaseu you didnt see them does not mean they are not there or you didnt drive right by one.

My last road trip to Joeseph I can honestly say I seen 2 cops and one was at the shoot! But I know they were out there.

I hear what you're saying, and it IS just a matter of chance, but in my perception, it seems like you see OSP a lot less these days. Back in 2001/2002, I was driving back and forth between Portland and Boise almost every weekend, and I saw OSP *everywhere* on 84. Now, not so much.

I never thought I'd be complaining about NOT seeing cops, but this is the wrong reason for them to go. I really hope Saxton gets elected and follows through on his rhetoric.

Posted: 8/23/2006 12:52:42 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
....
Yea but did you see me? ...

See you,,,, someone took a picture of you

www.liquorsnob.com/archives/pictures/Super-Troopers-thumb.jpg

Because only I am MAN enough to take full power shot to the nads and walk away...

Indians, they will never learn!

(I thought you always bent over when the full power shot was coming?)

Only when its from you. That way I know I feel a thing!

Posted: 8/23/2006 12:53:18 PM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Depends where you live NoAim.

I haven't seen a cop car drive through Beavercreek in prolly 3 years.

Last weekend the wife and I took a "family and friends" road trip.. drove up 97 from Bend to Biggs, then up 84 to La Grande. From there out 84 to Boise, then back to Bend via Burns on Hwy 20. I saw two cops the entire trip, and one of them was in Idaho. Several major highways, and not one OSP trooper to be seen.

Yea but did you see me? Or Patty for that matter?
My point is there the odds of you seeing the handful of troopers patrolling that area are slim unless they are just parked. Like county, state answers calls. They also play other rolls, like fish and game here in HR. Just becaseu you didnt see them does not mean they are not there or you didnt drive right by one.

My last road trip to Joeseph I can honestly say I seen 2 cops and one was at the shoot! But I know they were out there.

I hear what you're saying, and it IS just a matter of chance, but in my perception, it seems like you see OSP a lot less these days. Back in 2001/2002, I was driving back and forth between Portland and Boise almost every weekend, and I saw OSP *everywhere* on 84. Now, not so much.

I never thought I'd be complaining about NOT seeing cops, but this is the wrong reason for them to go. I really hope Saxton gets elected and follows through on his rhetoric.

I hear ya.