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CLEAR Temp: 27 °F Wind: S at 4 mph Monday, February 10, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 30, 2003 State Police layoffs include 50 troopers and begin Feb. 1 By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Their worst fears confirmed with the failure of Measure 28, nearly 50 state troopers in Oregon’s southern region are preparing to turn in their guns, badges and uniforms. Oregon State Police layoff notices take effect on Feb. 1. And those who still have jobs wonder where they’ll come out in a statewide shuffle based on seniority. After more than seven years as a detective in Central Point, trooper Maureen Bedell foresees being bumped back to patrolling the state’s roads. She just doesn’t know where. "I think today was the day for me — and a lot of other troopers in the office — that reality hit," Bedell said. "This is all new territory. None of us have gone down this path before." The failure of Measure 28 means that state officials must cut another $310 million in spending on education, social services and public safety. That means $6.1 million in cuts to state police, with layoffs of 129 troopers and 157 other staff, from secretaries to forensic scientists. "It’s cost the citizens millions of dollars to train these troopers who are walking out the door," Bedell said. It was unclear whether Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski and legislative leaders would do anything to forestall cuts. Kulongoski has said he won’t let prisons close, for example. Some troopers hold the hope that legislative changes, such as a fee on auto insurance to fund OSP, could save their jobs. Republican Sen. Rob Patridge has proposed adding an average assessment of $1.83 to monthly insurance bills to fund OSP’s patrol division and prosecution of traffic-related offenses. The plan would raise nearly $45 million each year, "funding their entire patrol division," Patridge said. OSP now is funded with $391 million from the state’s general fund, which can change from year to year. "If the state police is going to be a viable agency, we have to have a dedicated funding source," Bedell said. Bedell and her husband, senior trooper Bill Bedell, both plan to stay with OSP, even if it means commuting elsewhere, such as Klamath Falls or Coos Bay. A Rogue Valley resident since she was 12, Maureen Bedell has been a sworn OSP officer for nine years and worked in the agency’s dispatch center for five years. Bill Bedell began his career with OSP in Central Point in 1983. Although expecting the demise of their investigative division in Southern Oregon, Maureen Bedell and the station’s eight other detectives will continue to investigate criminal cases until they are told to stop. OSP’s detectives in Central Point, including a sergeant and lieutenant, now investigate major crimes across seven counties. They also offer the area's only polygraph operator and specialist in computer crimes. In February, four detectives would be left. One detective and a lieutenant would most likely have the means to investigate only "public confidence" cases — involving other police agencies or public officials — and crimes committed in institutions, said OSP Capt. Eric Rodriguez. The office's two arson detectives would remain because their positions are paid with taxes on fire insurance premiums, not the state's general fund. After the layoffs, there will be one trooper for every 13,800 Oregonians, said Jim Botwinis, president of the Oregon State Police Officers Association. Botwinis said Oregon’s current ratio — one for every 10,000 — is already worse than any neighboring state. For example, California has one trooper per 5,200 residents. He said Oregonians will notice the difference. "Short of the Legislature doing a fix, the public can expect delayed responses to crashes, a 30 percent reduction in the arrest of drunk drivers, and some communities will have no services from the state police at all," Botwinis said. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . The Associated Press contributed to this story. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S