Troopers grateful for funding, more is needed

July thirty, 2021

(Photo courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety)

(Photograph courtesy of Arizona Department of Public Safety)

As federal and country revenue enhancement money flows in Arizona, our leaders made long-overdue investments in the land'due south public rubber agencies.

At the Department of Public Prophylactic, troopers and civilian employees won a much-needed 10% pay raise. The money is a very adept start to reaching parity with other constabulary enforcement agencies in the land. Our ranks are so thin that the only way troopers embrace the new portion of the Loop 202 in south Phoenix is through overtime.

Despite adding 1,300 miles of country highway since the 1990s, DPS added no more trooper positions. On top of that, DPS has about 270 vacancies among its sworn staff with another 180 eligible for retirement. Many are hoping the 10% pay raise volition stanch the exodus of troopers. In this time of "Defund the Police" rhetoric, Arizona leaders stepped upward in a measurable way to bolster the ranks of the Highway Patrol.

Arizona didn't suffer the revenue enhancement striking like other states. While some economic activities were shut down, Gov. Doug Ducey left much of the state open for business, helping to ensure a connected strong economy.

Coupled with an infusion of federal money, DPS and other police enforcement agencies did well in the budget passed past Republicans and signed past Ducey.

In addition to the pay enhance, DPS received $250,000 to add canines. DPS had to retire many of our specially trained dogs because of the marijuana legalization initiative passed by voters. Our dogs could not simply be retrained. Instead, the department is purchasing new dogs to aid our troopers patrol the state'south highways. But adding the animals is only a role of the cost. The DPS canine training facility is in dire need of rehab.

Jeff Hawkins

Our facility in Casa Grande lacks important shade structures that makes preparation in the summertime nearly impossible. Shade and cooling equipment are desperately needed. The section needs a little over $one 1000000 to brand the grooming facility safer for trainers, dog handlers and the dogs.

The Legislature approved $3 one thousand thousand each for active shooter equipment and to improve our training facility.

Left out of the budget, withal, was nigh $11 million needed to replace an older helicopter used in rescues. The 1990s era aircraft served its purpose, just applied science upgrades in the past three decades makes this helicopter obsolete. For instance, if the helicopter is used for a nighttime rescue of a stranded or injured hiker, a medical professional tin exist lowered to the scene. However, the rescue cannot occur until daylight hours. Newer helicopters give rescuers the ability to treat a patient and airlift them to safety no matter the time of twenty-four hour period.

And while nosotros promise to hire new troopers in the coming months, one expanse legislators left unfunded was a relatively modest appropriation of almost $500,000 to house recruits during training. The land no longer pays for housing of those going through the training programme. With recruits coming from all over the country, asking them to pay for two households is not reasonable. 1 cadet even was forced to sell claret to aid pay expenses. That's not how nosotros want to treat the people volunteering for state service. Side by side twelvemonth, we will ask state leaders to cover this minor expense.

The 2021-22 upkeep makes of import investments in Arizona'south public safety customs and nosotros are grateful to the legislators and governor who supported new coin to keep the land's highways safe.

Next year, we will continue to ask the governor and legislators for minor investments to ensure the public is protected adequately past troopers around Arizona.

Jeff Hawkins is president of the Arizona Troopers Union.

Arizona Department of Public Condom legislature viii:14 am Friday, July 30, 2021 Arizona Capitol Times

Upshot: Arizona Section of Public Condom legislature

Source: https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2021/07/30/troopers-grateful-for-funding-more-is-needed/

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