Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Consequences of a trooper hiring freeze

Posted in:

Illinois

* Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to cut $9.2 million from the Illinois State Police’s budget next year, which means no new troopers…

The lack of new hires, combined with a number of troopers heading off to retirement, will mean fewer officers patrolling.

That has budget officials projecting a continuing drop in the number of alcohol-related citations handed out by the state police, from more than 16,800 in the fiscal year ending July 1, 2012, to an estimated 12,224 citations in the year ending July 1, 2016.

Despite that decrease, a state police spokesman said public safety for Illinoisans and others on the roads roadways remains a top priority for the governor.

“Given the inherited budget crisis, Governor Rauner faces some extremely tough budgetary challenges,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Boerwinkle.

He added that Rauner’s pick to run the state police, former Chicago Police Department administrator Leo Schmitz, “will utilize strategic enforcement strategies and best practices in order to maximize resources” to protect the lives and property of Illinois citizens.

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:03 am

Comments

Interesting that they referenced a lack of DUI citations, as opposed to a lack of speeding citations.

They certainly seem to know the perception of the State Police.

Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:06 am
How on earth will they ever provide security at the state fair if they do this? Hardly any cops at all there as it is now…

Comment by Too Many Cops Already Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:12 am
Top Heavy. Cut at Top. Too many Chiefs.

Comment by x ace Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:13 am
All of the “strategic enforcement strategies” in the world aren’t going to help you when a winter storm hits the northern half of the state and you have motorists stranded every ten miles.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:13 am
The relevant question is whether this will mean fewer troopers on the streets or if this is more about cutting a bloated back office?

Comment by slow down Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:16 am
During last year’s “doomsday parade”, Director Grau sat in front of the Senate Approp II Committee and said that a 20% cut would make the ISP a “reactive” agency instead of a “proactive” agency. That remark drew some pretty intense stares from both sides of the aisle. That does beg the question of how we want our police forces at all levels to act and respond. I would think somewhere in the middle would be best, but greater minds than mine may disagree.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:19 am
Scare tactics…is Tracy Morgan their spokesperson?

Comment by Westward Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:19 am
Fine by me. All those troopers seem to do in my area is issue tickets for non moving violations in the city limits. We have enough city police issuing tickets in the jurisdiction, thank you.

Comment by jogger Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:20 am
Staffing in the low 1700s, will put ISP back down to the levels of the early ’70s (when it was set by the legislature at 1725 in the budget). There were 28 Captains, 5 Majors, & 2 Lt. Cols in those days. Wonder how many there are now?

Comment by North by Northwest Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:23 am
Chicago police tactics for the Illinois state police no wonder he wants to hire more prison guards

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:25 am
i say cut the whole department. let the counties and locals handle it.

Comment by highspeed Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:25 am
Enforce the speed limits, millions of dollars in fines.

Comment by tobor Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:28 am
No worries. Just roll the cuts into the pension savings.

What’s the difference between $2.2 billion in phony savings and $2.2092 billion? It’s a phony savings rounding error.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:28 am
gosh if only there was another law enforcement entity able to handle dui and other traffic safety stops……. like say sheriffs or muni police. wonder what their average salary and pensions are.

Comment by in the know Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:34 am
Its hard to worry about lowering the number of troopers who patrol in packs. So there will only be 4 instead of 6 saturating one area? So when i drive by the scales everyday there will only be 3 sitting inside there all day instead of 5? So they will need to purchase and equip a third less cars to be in the same place at the same time?
Also a good point from N by NW. Reducing management numbers to the levels of the 70s would help not only ISP but all departments.

Comment by SO IL M Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:37 am
I always find stories about the state police amusing. You always get dopes coming out of the woodwork that want to completely eliminate the department.

Budget cuts have consequences. This is one of them. The Governor’s budget showed that nothing is sacred, including public safety.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:41 am
How do we keep people from being concerned about their safety? Come up with some fancy double talk. How’s this: “strategic enforcement strategies?” Yeah, that’s it. That sounds good.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:42 am
==will utilize strategic enforcement strategies and best practices in order to maximize resources==

One thing is for sure, we are definitely being run like a business.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:45 am
Where’s the CIA wannabe blacksite going to be located?

Comment by Jorge Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:49 am
Well at least those that are not hired will be able to keep their pensions untouched by reform.

Comment by howard Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:50 am
Maybe those who think their local police and sheriffs should take over the state police role should call their sheriff and ask if they want responsibilty…Wait, don’t bother, I can tell you they don’t. Every year the GA passes laws that are specifically geared towards being implemented, monitored or enforced by the state police and the state police only. People who gripe about them “harassing” motorists need to do a little research into the department and it’s overall role in state law enforcement instead of posting knee jerk statements.

Comment by Will Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:51 am
Director Leo. Cut all that fat from HQ and the Districts and get back to basics. Too many “empty holsters” who forgot what “the road” looks like. Thats the answer for the situation as it is today.

Comment by proudstatetrooper Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:51 am
==Reducing management numbers to the levels of the 70s==

Did you just pull that out of your rear end or do you have some basis to say “the 70’s.”

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:52 am
There is no shortage of Troopers. Dozens are detailed to the Riverboat casinos, a cush assignment with lots of OT. They can be easily replaced by Gaming Board agents at lower cost.

Comment by anon. Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:53 am
I had read somewhere the state used to receive some matching federal funds for providing state police on interstates. Is this cutback going to result in a loss of some federal funding?

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:58 am
Yep, fewer troopers on the interstate, especially south of I-80 sounds like a great strategy!/snark

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 10:04 am
anon. - Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:53 am: ==There is no shortage of Troopers. Dozens are detailed to the Riverboat casinos, ..===

They have been detailed to these assignments because of a bad budget strategy, moves them off GR Payroll.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 10:05 am
Not a crisis, is it? Just look in the most recent article posted. Chicago is growing in leaps and bounds. Soon, revenue will be pouring in - we will grow ourselves right out of the crisis - if there really is/was a crisis.

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 10:14 am
Last year Dir Grau reported only two troopers were on duty during a midnight shift (covering 9 counties).

As State Rep Cabello asked, “Is this acceptable?”

Especially during weather like this when it’s freezing out? I’m sure their response time for your accident or car in the ditch is about an hour.

So much for proactively locking up drink drivers too. They get a pass…

http://m.qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/document-shows-bleak-financial-picture-for-illinois/article_70fdf8dc-35f3-5645-9c60-bbd58e2dec94.html?mobile_touch=true

Comment by Anon... Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 10:16 am
“Budget cuts have consequences. This is one of them. The Governor’s budget showed that nothing is sacred, including public safety”
Except motorcycle training.

Comment by Bruce (No not him) Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 10:24 am
I wonder how many “man-hours” are eaten up every month by officers cruising the streets to hand out citations for not wearing seat belts?

Comment by Esteban Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 10:32 am
It may help if the “statetroopers” were on the street instead of sitting in offices doing paperwork. Kinda hard to get the “they are too high in title to risk on the streets”. I think people should be compensated for putting their lives on the line …my thoughts if you are so important that you are needed in the office then your big and I do mean big pension should be the same as the “non code” person sitting next to you.

Comment by jazzy Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 11:00 am
All those millions in revenue for handing out speeding and other tickets goes directly to the County coffers where the ticket was issued. No money going back to the Troopers or the State. Maybe its time to the the ISP keep the fines or better yet have all the fines from trooper written tickets go directly into the pension funds. That might fix two problems at once

Comment by Frank Ambrose Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 11:03 am
@in the know
What’s your average salary? Put yours out there for us to see and come down off the mountain top already.

Comment by Jnl75 Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 11:29 am
- SO IL M - Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 9:37 am:

Its hard to worry about lowering the number of troopers who patrol in packs. So there will only be 4 instead of 6 saturating one area? So when i drive by the scales everyday there will only be 3 sitting inside there all day instead of 5? So they will need to purchase and equip a third less cars to be in the same place at the same time?
Also a good point from N by NW. Reducing management numbers to the levels of the 70s would help not only ISP but all departments.

They are fulfilling ridiculous mandates imposed on them by the “empty holsters” and their army of “house mouses” that bring you phrases like “strategic enforcement strategies and best practices”.

Clean out Central HQ and put those people on the road…”if they can handle it”.

and what was up with the new Director wearin’ a tux at the Chicago Auto Show?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 11:35 am
Like said below, eliminate the troopers that are assigned to the Gaming Board. Some of them work at the casinos yet are still assigned state vehicles which they use only to commute to and from work!!! Gaming Agents are sworn officers which makes having troopers assigned there pointless, especially since troopers cost more than the gaming agents

Comment by Truth teller Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 11:43 am
Sure there are only a handful of state troopers but apparently they are all on I-55 between me and the Capitol.

Comment by Century Club Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 11:46 am
@jnl75, less than that of a master sgt.

Comment by Matt Jones Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 11:58 am
I love the troopers, but lets be clear that the ISP has responsibilities like running labs, crime scene investigations and investigations that get shorter shrift because of funding pressures created by the highway patrol side of the house. At least 3 blue ribbon reports over the decades point to a similar point, that the merger of the IBI and the Highway Patrol has not produced the desired results. Troopers (and all LEO’s) never know when the next roadside stop could result in a life or death confrontation, thankfully most do not. But they must be prepared nonetheless. But Sheriff’s deputies and municipal police officers handle multiple times more DUI enforcement stops than the ISP, and do so capably and at a lower cost. And @WILL, I think with the right incentives, Sheriff’s would be happy to patrol the interstates as they do other state highways.

Comment by Matt Jones Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 12:07 pm
The rhetoric about efficiency won’t provide a timely police response when there are fewer troopers available. It will also mean even less traffic enforcement on the major highways and expressways where the average speeds are already 15-20 mph over the limit.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 12:09 pm
Why not cash in on time measured speeding tickets between toll booths?

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 12:20 pm
Matt,
Of course they handle more traffic stops. There’s many more of them. And if you are providing them incentives ($) to work the interstates then where is the savings? If you want educated, well trained police you have to pay for them. If you don’t, then you’ll get what you pay for. State Police are required to have degrees, extended Academy training and continuing education. The salaries are comparable to large suburban departments with the same requirements.

Comment by Will Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 12:26 pm
In my area I have repeatedly seen State Police patrolling county highways even though we have a very large county police force.

Obviously they have too much personnel. Besides all of state government employees are going to get a real haircut- why should the state police be different. Same goes for their pensions which Rauner states he will leave alone.

Comment by Federalist Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 12:58 pm
They are called STATE police for a reason. Where would you like them to be? Tell us what roads are acceptable.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 1:36 pm
Translation: the FOP did not endorse me so I’m gonna give it right back to them. Manpower has dropped around 40% in the last 25 years. it’s reaching a point where no manner of strategic enforcement is going to make a difference.

Comment by Former Merit Comp Slave Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 2:42 pm
ISP regularly sits and runs radar and looks for seat belts in our city on a few of our 30mph roadways even though we have a full time city police force. Never understood that, not with all the other possible priorities out there.

Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 2:50 pm
- Shemp - Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 2:50 pm:

ISP regularly sits and runs radar and looks for seat belts in our city on a few of our 30mph roadways even though we have a full time city police force. Never understood that, not with all the other possible priorities out there.

I think maybe some here are confused between the terms ‘Highway Patrol” and “State Police”.

Some states have Highway Patrols and the are restricted to enforcement action ONLY on state highways.

State Police, on the other hand, are not. Their authority is statewide. Another words, if it is in Illinois, it’s within their jurisdiction.

Routinely, “your city”, on your roadways”, is also patrolled by “your police force” that routinely calls the State Police when things get out of hand.

Be glad you have this blanket of protection.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 4:09 pm
Suggest some one check how many sgt,m/sgt,lt,capt,,lt Col,Col Major vers troopers on staff

Comment by aldo Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 4:28 pm
I wonder if this reduction includes the officers assigned to protect the Governor (sorta like the Secret Service).

Nah

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 4:35 pm
Interesting arguments. Something to consider; in 1975 the population of Illinois was around 11 million. The ISP had a sworn headcount of around 1700. The vast majority of which were assigned to patrol. Over the years, as the population swelled to over 13 million, the ISP has seen it’s headcount move up to it’s current 1800. Percentage wise the population increased by about 30% while the troopers increased by about 6%. But even that is a deceiving. In 1975 the ISP had basically no investigative division, no gaming, no FOID section, no SWAT, no concealed carry, no medical marijuana section, no crash reconstruction section, no crime scene section…all things brought on by statewide needs or new state laws. In 2015 about 900 of the 1800 Troopers are working in patrol. In other words, in 1975 there was roughly one patrol trooper for every 7,300 citizens. In 2015 there is one for every 14,000 citizens. Do more with less? The ISP has been singing that song for years. The ISP is a well educated, highly trained work force. I would encourage anyone who wishes to criticize the ISP to take a few hours and go by their local District. See what they actually do. Fill out a ride along form and spend an evening on patrol. Afterwards, if you still feel the same way, fine. But I think you’ll see that your tax dollars definitely aren’t being wasted.

Comment by Trooper Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 6:47 pm
Troops are assigned to riverboats because it is the law. No matter what some say about a Trooper that Trooper will be the first to help you and I am proud be have spent a career with everyone of them.
Be Safe

Comment by rilt Tuesday, Mar 3, 15 @ 7:47 pm
Lot of people down here on the troopers. Can’t say that I get it. Patrolling the expressways is not my idea of a cushy job.

In pre-cell phone days, I had a couple of experiences where I broke down on some lonesome interstate in zero degree weather at night and the sight of the troopers pulling up behind was about the best feeling in the world.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 6:09 am
==They are just traffic cops.==

You are a dope and obviously have zero idea what the State Police as a department does.

==pensions, free health insurance ==

I think pensions have been discussed on the board quite a bit. Apparently you missed all of those discussions. There’s that pesky Constitution that everyone is trying to get around when dealing with pensions.

As for free healthcare, NOBODY working gets free healthcare. Dope x2

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 7:36 am
‘There is no shortage of Troopers’
True there would be plenty if they take them out of the office and in a car where they belong and actually earn their great pension.

Comment by kayaker Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:00 am
Translation: the FOP did not endorse me so I’m gonna give it right back to them.

FOP is in severe damage control. Their two top bosses cut and run to new positions they pre-arranged before Quinn left office. Members left holding the bag. Criminal what they did to their members.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 8:45 am
Leo is an old friend and one of the most dedicated policeman I know. He will do his best, that’s all he has ever done. Congrats Leo the ISP will do fine under your direction!

Comment by Sammy Wednesday, Mar 4, 15 @ 11:35 am