Posted on 12/30/2009 09:32

Shortage of state troopers looming New fees proposed to fund police training Tuesday, December 29, 2009 By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau HARRISBURG -- Faced with a declining number of state troopers and no money for a new class of cadets, state legislators are trying to figure out ways to beef up the ranks, including two bills that could generate millions of dollars for new classes of cadets. "The crisis in state police ranks is looming. It's on the horizon and it will hit us between the eyes unless we do something," said Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Reading, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which held a hearing yesterday on the problem. The state has 4,677 troopers authorized, but that amount includes 277 who only patrol the turnpike (and its extensions), with another 130 troopers assigned to slots casinos. That leaves only 4,270 troopers authorized for covering all other areas of the state, including all interstate highways and many local roads in hundreds of smaller towns that don't have their own police forces. With about 200 existing vacancies and 150 or so troopers retiring each year, the remaining troopers are being stretched thinner and thinner, with many of them working more than the eight hours they're paid for, said Sgt. Bruce Edwards, state police union president. Another strain on state trooper ranks has been an increase, from 32 to 100, in the contingent assigned to Philadelphia to patrol interstate highways that used to be patrolled by city police. The shift did help the city with its budget problems, and Mr. Edwards said state troopers already patrol interstate roads in all other areas of the state, including the Pittsburgh area. Mr. Edwards said that ideally, the state should be turning out 200 to 250 new troopers per year, to make up for retirements and reduce vacancies. State Reps. Brian Ellis, R-Butler, Joe Petrarca, D-Westmoreland, and John Evans, R-Erie, all said that state police barracks in their areas need additional troopers. Gary Tuma, a spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell, said, "We are looking at what it would cost for a cadet class or classes in future years. As with so many other items in these times, it comes down to budgetary considerations." Earlier this month, a final class of 80 cadets graduated from the state police academy, paid for by 2008-09 state funds. There is no money for more troopers allocated in the 2009-10 budget, meaning a severe shortage of state police is looming, said Mr. Caltagirone. The question is, he said, where to get the money for a new class of cadets? The answer could come in House Bill 1883, introduced by Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery, or House Bill 1500, by Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster. The Vereb bill would impose a $10 surcharge on any traffic ticket written anywhere in the state by a state or local police officer, and paid by any motorist found guilty of the offense. Mr. Caltagirone estimated that measure could generate about $13 million, which he said is enough for a class of 100 cadets. Mr. Tuma said the governor would sign the surcharge bill if it reaches his desk. However, after cadets complete nine months of training, Mr. Caltagirone noted, they join state police ranks, and their salary/benefit costs come out of the state's Motor License Fund. It's funded by the state gasoline tax, driver's license fees and vehicle registration fees. With more fuel-efficient vehicles and an increasing number of hybrid cars on the road, gasoline taxes aren't generating a lot of additional revenue, legislators said. Mr. Edwards said he wasn't opposed to the $10 surcharge but noted it would likely cause a lot of complaining by motorists, since there are already other surcharges that can push the cost of many tickets toward $150. The state's general fund can't help pay for troopers because it's already stretched. It ended the last fiscal year with a $3.2 billion deficit due to sharp declines in income tax, sales tax and corporate tax revenue. The Sturla bill would require towns to pay fees -- $52 per resident in year one, $104 in year two and $156 in year three -- if they get protection from state police rather than having their own local police. The bill estimates that $20 million a year could be raised for more cadets. Several larger towns in Westmoreland County without local police have sharply protested the idea of paying a special fee for state police services, saying that should be covered by other state taxes that residents pay. Bureau Chief Tom Barnes can be reached at tbarnes@post-gazette.com or 717-787-4254.