Governor Working on Bi-Partisan Plan to Put More Troopers on Oregon Highways

(SALEM) - Governor Kulongoski says that he will propose a program to the 2007 Legislature that will strengthen the Oregon State Police by providing 24-hour, seven-days-a-week patrol coverage on Oregon’s highways, and beefing up criminal investigation and crime-lab services to fight meth trafficking, ID theft and other crimes.

“We must restore full capability to the Oregon State Police,” the Governor said. “For the sake of our troopers, and for the safety of our citizens, we must rebuild this critical agency. I am committed to fighting for the safety of our communities and adequate investment in our State Police.”

In 1979, the State Police had 665 sworn, fulltime troopers, the Governor pointed out. Because of successive budget cutbacks during the past 27 years, the agency now has only 333 -- about half as many, even though the state’s population has grown by more than a million, or 40 percent.

“To continue to limp along with just half the state troopers we had nearly three decades ago is unthinkable, and in my view unacceptable,” the Governor told a luncheon gathering of troopers, their families and retirees, marking the agency’s 75th anniversary.

“Nowhere in Oregon can we provide 24-hour coverage of state highways, seven days a week,” the Governor said. “Cutbacks have forced the State Police to patrol bigger areas, eliminate duties, make response times longer, and compromise the safety of its officers.”

The Governor worked with state Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem) and House Speaker Karen Minnis (R-Wood Village) earlier this year to secure approval by the Legislature’s Emergency Board of 10 new troopers and nine evidence technicians for the State Police. It’s a start, the Governor said, but the state must do more.

“I will restore 24-hour, seven-day-a-week coverage on Oregon’s highways as soon as possible,” the Governor said. “Oregonians deserve to feel safe on our roads. And they’re entitled to expect timely medical and life-saving help when accidents occur. This is a basic public service that we must not neglect any longer.”

The Governor also wants to strengthen the Criminal Investigation Division and the Forensic Services Division to fight crime in Oregon—especially sexual predators, ID thieves, and meth traffickers.

“Local law enforcement agencies have done a superb job of fighting crime in this state—especially meth crimes and ID theft—but they need more help from the state,” the Governor said. “In particular, they need more intensive engagement by the Oregon State Police. I’m determined to ensure the State Police get the resources they need.”

The Governor’s next budget will include money to begin restoring 24/7 patrol coverage of Oregon’s roads and highways by the State Police, he pledged. The goal is not achievable overnight, he said, because the state lacks the capacity to train all the troopers it needs at the same time, but he wants to act as quickly as possible. Restoring 24/7 coverage will vastly improve traffic safety on the heavily traveled Interstate 5, he said, and will result in more arrests of meth traffickers on the state’s highways.

“I will work with the Legislature to respond the need for more troopers, knowing that we cannot do it all in the next budget period,” the Governor said. “Still, I’m confident the Legislature shares my sense of urgency about this issue. I’m confident that we can work together in a bi-partisan manner to get 24/7 patrol coverage done.”

“And like me, they want our people to be safe -- both in their communities and on the highway.”

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Comments

Comments are Closed on this story.

Albert Marnell August 2, 2006 9:23 pm (Pacific time)

Dear BG, I have been helped once in my life by law enforcement out of about 100 requests for myself or others. I do not need the police for anything. I can take care of myself. If I have a problem, I will call the fire department, EMS, a friend or a lawyer and most importantly there is nothing that a police officer can do for me but get in my way or create trouble over nothing. I am my own officer and will help and take care of myself. I have a lifetime of experience with them. Most men ironically know what they are all about. Most women do not. I have theories about this but do not want to write a whole analysis right now. I do not hate them, I just see them for what they are and have no use for them. Have you been let down by law enforcement almost 100 times since you were 5 years old? I think not! They are there to serve and protect their salaries, families, friends, connections, pensions, health and retirement benefits. They only socialize with one another for the most part. You obviously belong in Disneyland or on Leave It to Beaver. Read badcopnews.com. Of course there are a few good ones. Maybe one out of 100. It is a sinecure job revolving around easy arrests and raising revenue for states and municipalities. One day there will be a law that you can not have caffeine in your system because they will say that it makes you hyper and not able to drive safely. It is all a bureaucratic business and a closed club. You also have never tried to make a complaint about one of them when THEY are breaking the law. Watch what happens or more specifically what does not happen. You have a romantic myth like notion of police and what they do. You also assume or are fooled by men and women in a nice uniform. I am not. You have limited life experience out in the real world or on the streets. A very close relative of mine had a whole police department paid off over 20 years ago so that he could park his trucks wherever he wanted. Now that relative is dead for almost 20 years and most of those police officers are probably retired or dead. Even as a young teenager I was instructed by family to give them free product for what I learned later were mercenary motives. I was just an innocent kid.

BG August 2, 2006 6:40 pm (Pacific time)

While I'm all for the lessening of drug and personal choice laws I believe the Oregon State Patrol is an excellent and overworked group. It's easy to hate the cops until you need one.

Albert Marnell August 2, 2006 2:35 pm (Pacific time)

Hey Governor Bolognyski, Why are you not in the forefront of legalizing marijuana? When was the last time you had a glass of wine, beer or a cocktail? If not you how about your wife? If you want to reduce crime, reduce the police force or at least hire more female officers because they do not inflame situations like male officers do. Police work is a woman's job. Men just make more trouble and get all testosteroned-up. Most female officers have a calming presence and diffuse a situation in contrast to males who throw fuel on the fire because they want to prove their manhood (whatever the hell that is.) Are you beholden to some police union or agency? What are you doing to investigate police corruption and criminal activities? What are you doing to make sure that Internal Affairs are not in bed with the State Police or County Police Civil Servants? Get off the popular battle cries of meth and sex and get to the real crimes of police corruption and corruption in government. How about people that have cash businesses and skim millions of dollars everyday across the state? What about more money for Medicaid and Public Assistance? What about patronage jobs? Why are you so in love with the State Police? What the hell is this talk of yours? What about the kids? What about health insurance and good food in the schools? Don't split your pants Governor, you might be accused of being a sex-offender. Focus on someone who forgets to put their blinker on, yeah Governor, that is real important! Focus on a little bit of marijuana and while you are at it make sure that the police are not having it disappear from the evidence room or use it themselves or sell it. Your battle cries are so unoriginal I am about to fall asleep or throw-up. Identity theft is an important issue. That is only one that I heard mentioned Governor. You are not rating very high on my Richter scale! Stop worrying about your fancy suits and shoes and those friggin speeches of yours and get to the beef! And while you are at it go to www.badcopnews.com. Stop wasting money on contrived crimes and police cars and gasoline. Be balanced! Investigate kickbacks in government agencies and political favors while you are at it too. Regulating traffic has it's place but give the people of Oregon a break. Is that all you are worried about? You sound like a real DUD!

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Governor Working on Bi-Partisan Plan to Put More Troopers on Oregon Highways

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