SENATE REPUBLICANS’ PLAN WOULD CUT STATE POLICE FUNDING BY $84 MILLION, LEAD TO 800 TROOPER LAYOFFS, REDUCED SERVICE FOR 1,720 COMMUNITIES
PHILADELPHIA – Gov. Edward G. Rendell underscored the importance of preserving state funds for the Pennsylvania State Police and warned that the budget proposed by Senate Republicans would force the agency to lay off up to 800 troopers, dropping the enlisted ranks to its lowest level in 40 years.
The Senate Republicans’ plan, which cuts $84 million from state police operations, would threaten the safety of Pennsylvania’s communities by leading to fewer arrests and slashing support for resources troopers use to share information and enforce the law.
“Government has a duty, first and foremost, to keep its citizens safe. We cannot forget this,” said Rendell, who was joined by state police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski at the Troop K headquarters. “The Senate’s proposed budget would dangerously and irresponsibly withdraw support for the men and women who work tirelessly each day and put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe.
“If we were to adopt the Senate Republicans’ proposal, the state police would have to lay off as many as 800 troopers. That could result in more than 13,000 fewer criminal arrests and nearly 3,000 fewer arrests for DUI, not to mention allowing more sex offenders to walk our streets anonymously because we wouldn’t have the resources to track them down and ensure they’re listed on the state’s Megan’s Law registry.
“The Senate’s plan is reckless, if not criminal,” cautioned the Governor. “It was out of balance and out of touch with the real public safety needs of the citizens of our state. No legislator with a conscience can be serious about inflicting these cuts on our law enforcement.”
With fewer troopers, the Governor warned, communities that depend on the Pennsylvania State Police for patrols and law enforcement protection would receive less help. The Pennsylvania State Police provide full- or part-time services to about 1,720 municipalities—roughly two-thirds of all communities—covering approximately 25 percent of the state’s population.
In southeastern Pennsylvania, 83 municipalities have full- or part-time state police services, representing 373,372 individuals, or 15 percent of the population of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
Under the Senate Republicans’ plan—Senate Bill 850—the state police would receive $16.2 million less in General Fund appropriations, which would then result in an additional cut of $42.4 million for the agency from the Motor License Fund. Another $25 million would be cut from the technology and specialized computer systems that help keep law enforcement one step ahead of criminals.
The technology funding cuts would affect the Pennsylvania Justice Network, or JNET, which provides critical technology services for law enforcement to help apprehend criminals and keep themselves safer by knowing whether the offenders they are apprehending are fugitives, have warrants against them, or are domestic abusers. Funding for the State Police Law Enforcement Information Technology line, which supports the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Agency Network, the Pennsylvania Instant Gun Check System, Megan’s Law, the entire criminal history system, and several other key public safety applications, would be cut, as well.
“The impact would be real and disastrous and would only help criminals,” said the Governor. “Police officers would not be able to get real-time information about outstanding warrants, stolen property, or protection from abuse orders. When responding to domestic violence calls, for example, this lack of information will put troopers and victims’ lives in danger.
“Cyber security activities would be crippled and citizen data would be at unacceptable risk of hacking. Criminals who have been arrested or have outstanding warrants could slip through the cracks because troopers would not have in-car, real-time intrastate information. This is of particular concern in Philadelphia where the metro area makes it easy for criminals to flee across state lines.
“Additionally, honest and innocent people would be affected,” added the Governor. “People with names that match those of wanted criminals could be subject to false arrest because troopers may not have ready access to PennDOT photographs or they could be detained longer than necessary while their fingerprints are processed. And the background checks that many rely on for jobs, doing volunteer work, and buying guns for hunting or self-protection could be delayed.”
For more information on the Governor’s budget proposal, visit www.pa.gov.
