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Bills would boost state police Hannon, Patridge manage measures to restore strength BY PETER WONG SALEM -- Oregon State Police would replenish their ranks in the next two years by 100 troopers, including 18 in Southern Oregon, under a budget that has cleared a legislative subcommittee. But Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, said motorists should not expect to see most of the new troopers on state highways anytime soon. Of the total, 25 would be hired in mid-2000 and 75 in early 2001. Hannon, assigned as the budget's floor manager in the Senate, said most will have to undergo training before they go on the road. The increase would fulfill a pledge by Gov. John Kitzhaber during his re-election campaign to replenish OSP's ranks, which have dwindled from 641 troopers two decades ago to 399 positions today. Voters decided in 1980 to remove state police and parks from the highway trust fund, which now is reserved for road repairs and construction, and put them in the tax-supported general fund. "We promised then that we would take care of them, but for 19 years, we have not," Hannon said. Of the 100 new troopers, OSP would assign 18 to a seven-county Southern Oregon region, including five in Central Point and three in Grants Pass. Others would go to offices in Klamath Falls, Roseburg and Coos Bay. "No one disputes that they are needed," said Rep. Rob Patridge, R-Medford, assigned as the budget's floor manager in the House. The two-year budget approved by the Legislature's joint budget subcommittee on public safety this week is for $268 million, including $168 million from the tax-supported general fund and lottery proceeds. It is slightly more than Kitzhaber recommended. "The increase in the general fund was made primarily to enhance the department's statewide presence in patrol enforcement and capacity for forensic analysis," said its chairman, Rep. Ben Westlund, R-Bend. "The increase in lottery funds was to maintain existing fish and wildlife enforcement positions." Without the added lottery proceeds, declines in income from hunting and fishing licenses would leave vacant 14 positions for fish and wildlife enforcement and jeopardize the jobs of nine others. The budget would add 21 workers to the state police's forensics laboratory, which helps city and county investigations, and eight more regional dispatchers. Pending in a Senate committee is a proposed constitutional amendment by Hannon (Senate Joint Resolution 11) to allow use of registration fees to pay for State Police patrols on state highways. If voters approve it next year, it would trigger registration increases of $10 per car and $20 per truck that are proposed by Patridge in House Bill 2777. Hannon said the additional money would restore troopers close to their pre-1980 levels. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA