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NY down 120 State Troopers, loss of more possible under new budget

By TARYN FITSIK

ALBANY, N.Y. -- When it comes to New York State Troopers, the numbers tell the story. Thomas Mungeer, the president of the New York State Troopers' Police Benevolent Association, says new recruits have not trained at the New York State Police Academy since December 2008. Mungeer says with retirements remaining steady, right now, the state is down 120 troopers.

"I do acknowledge there is an economic crisis, but what I'm saying is, you can't treat public safety the same as everything else," says Mungeer. "When people still retire through the normal process, and there's nobody to take their spot, that's where we get into trouble, and it takes a long time to make up for that difference."

It's a difference that could soon become larger. Under Governor Paterson's current budget proposal, no new training classes will be held during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. Mungeer says typically, two classes of recruits are put through the academy each year, meaning by 2012, manpower could be reduced by 360 troopers.

"It's one thing to have your back-up 20-30 miles away, but it's another thing not to have any back-up at all."

Mungeer says when he refers to a reduction in manpower, he means the troopers actually out on the road, the men and women who patrol the highways, and respond to emergencies. However, also affected by the budget cuts will be 90 school resource officers, who could be be taken out of their current positions and re-assigned, to make up for the lack of recruits.

The superintendent at Berne-Knox Westerlo Central School District says their school resource officer, known to the students as "Trooper Steve", is a huge resource for the entire school community, providing education on important topics such as drug and alcohol abuse prevention and sexting.

"He has developed a different type of relationship with our kids and our families, which is very unique, through the guidance he provides, and that will be a huge hole for us to fill," says Kimberly LaBelle.

Mungeer says the bottom line is safety, recalling the deadly incidents involving the Bucky Phillips manhunt and the Travis Trim stand-off. He says the combination of fewer troopers, and a dangerous society, equals a slippery slope.

"We know what we're getting when we sign up for this job, but on the other hand, the state should be able to provide us with the equipment, and also the manpower so that we can do our job properly, safely, and make sure we go home at the end of the night."

The budget proposal states delaying state trooper training classes will avoid 17 million dollars in costs during the 2010-2011 fiscal year. News 10 contacted the governor's office for comment, and was told to contact the press officer for New York State troopers, who declined an interview.