An editorial from The Exponent Telegram
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — While we generally have supported Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s handling of the state’s ongoing budget problems, we question the wisdom of continued cuts in the area of public safety, primarily those affecting the State Police.
As Staff Writer Darlene Taylor reported in Sunday’s edition, the State Police currently has about 50 open positions. Those trooper slots may go unfilled under the most recent budget cuts if that is what agency administrators determine to be the best way to stay on budget.
The previous cuts have already delayed the scheduling of cadet training classes, which are needed to potentially fill the open positions, State Police Capt. Reggie Patterson indicated.
“As of July 1, 2016, we lost 29 positions to budget cuts. Those are gone forever as of today,” Patterson told The Exponent Telegram. “We have 668 positions today. So now we have 20 more vacancies, which is not enough to hold a class. A cadet class is only held for 25 or more vacancies.
“It all depends on the fiscal year coming right up,” Patterson said. “We are looking at the additional 2 percent budget cut and how that would affect the agency. We are not sure how that will play out. Most likely, the funded positions that we have not filled will be used to meet the budget cuts.”
We have to wonder just how much this loss of manpower is affecting public safety. We know in some rural counties there isn’t 24-hour staffing because of dwindling numbers of troopers.
And often those are the counties that need the most help because their sheriff’s departments are also usually understaffed for round-the-clock patrols.
Further complicating the manpower issue is the fact that troopers (and many others in law enforcement) remain underpaid compared to those in other states.
While they do have a good retirement system, the lack of adequate pay, as well as the lack of pay raises, leads some experienced officers to opt out at their first chance, leaving the force and then finding work at other agencies or other careers.
Combine the loss of experienced officers with a smaller force, and there should be concern among state leaders that the strength of the State Police and the agency’s ability to best protect the public is being severely hampered by continued budget cuts.
Incoming Governor Jim Justice says he’s not in favor of continued cuts, saying you can’t cut your way to prosperity. Likewise, you can’t cut your way to increased public safety.
“We have a very important mission to protect the citizens of West Virginia,” Patterson said. “As the economy worsens, crime usually picks up. In order to carry out our mission, it is imperative that we remain at full strength.”
Two local legislators, Del. Tim Miley, D-Harrison, and State Sen. Mike Romano, D-Harrison, favor more exact budget cuts that would leave public safety at full strength. Both also favor pay raises for State Police and all state workers.
“We have to get serious about pay raises for those in our communities who protect us and educate us. It’s all about making it a priority,” Miley said. “I’m especially alarmed that our premiere State Police force is not adequately funded when you stop and consider the growing crime rate associated with the drug problem in our state.
“It’s a matter of committing funding appropriately to provide public safety for all the citizens of West Virginia. I would support any legislation or budget that makes that happen,” he said.
“The Legislature should make a top priority the funding of the vacant positions within the State Police,” Romano said. “But, more importantly, we need to come up with a plan to increase the wages of all of our state workers. Our state workers have not received any significant increase in salaries for several years.”
We encourage Miley and Romano to work with the incoming administration, as well as the Republican-controlled House and Senate to find workable solutions within the current tax structure.
Using a more surgical approach to budget cuts would be the first step, while finding additional revenue sources that don’t burden taxpayers would cure much of what ails the State Police as well as all state agencies.
State lawmakers can’t continue to allow the State Police to be underfunded. The risk is too great.