FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2004
Back to News

Rafferty Supports Effort To Increase State Police Complement

Senator John Rafferty (R-44) today joined legislators and law enforcement officers in urging Gov. Edward G. Rendell to provide more state funding in the upcoming budget to increase the number of state troopers in Pennsylvania.

Rafferty, who serves on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, said he will push to add 90 more troopers this year and 180 more over the next two years. He noted that the additional positions would cost the state $3.6 million in each of the next three years.

"There are simply too many challenges our state police face for us to not give them more help," Rafferty said at a news conference today at the state capitol. " Even if we don't lose a single trooper to retirement or military duty, we are still asking 4,200 troopers to patrol 44,000 miles of highway in addition to investigating crimes such as homicides, illegal drugs, Internet and computer crime, and domestic violence, to name just a very few."

He also noted that many local municipalities are eliminating or cutting back their police departments because of budget difficulties. As a result, the state police must step in and take over law enforcement duties.

"Public safety should be our top priority – we need to keep our highways and communities safe and secure," Rafferty said. "As we work to craft a state budget for the coming year, I will fight to make sure that we keep that commitment to the people of this state."

In 2001, state lawmakers approved legislation to increase the state police complement by 370 troopers. Funding has consistently been provided for 100 of those positions. To fill the complement, the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association is calling on Gov. Rendell to provide funding for 90 positions a year over the next three years – a move that Rafferty strongly supports.

He noted that Pennsylvania currently ranks last in the number of full-time state and local law enforcement personnel per 100,000 residents, when compared to states of similar size.

CONTACT: MARK MEYER (717) 787-1398