Public Safety asks lawmakers for Aero Bureau, trooper hires, vehicle and technology funding to meet growing demand

The Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) asked the Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 31 for multiple additions to its budget to support law enforcement operations, saying growth in population, miles driven and special events have strained existing resources.

Jess Anderson, commissioner of public safety, told the committee the agency’s request includes funding for the Aero Bureau, additional troopers, overtime, vehicle and equipment shortfalls, ongoing maintenance for a new records management system and positions for video redaction.

Aero Bureau: Anderson said DPS recorded 978 law‑enforcement missions and search‑and‑rescue flights in 2024, with about 300 people rescued by helicopter last year. The department requested $1.775 million ongoing to sustain the Aero Bureau and an additional $250,000 ongoing for a pilot to round out staffing; Anderson said the program reduces costs compared with ad‑hoc military support and improves response times.

Troopers and overtime: DPS requested funding to hire 10 additional highway patrol troopers to expand 24/7 coverage along I‑15 and other corridors, citing increases in miles driven (a 1.6% rise that translated to about 800 million additional miles in a single year) and staffing shortfalls. The department also requested a $2 million one‑time overtime appropriation to cover operational gaps and surge events.

Vehicles and fleet: DPS requested approximately $8.8 million to address higher vehicle and equipment costs and to buy down leases across about 700 vehicles; the package includes $4.4 million supplemental for the current year and $4.4 million for the following year to stabilize ongoing lease rates, Commissioner Anderson said.

Records management and video redaction: DPS said it is near go‑live for a multiyear records management (RMS) replacement. Ongoing maintenance and licensing will total roughly $700,000 per year; the department also requested funding to replace trooper laptops associated with the new system. DPS requested $100,000 ongoing for an additional video‑redaction position to narrow the backlog of GRAMA requests for body and dash camera footage; the department said requests can take more than 120 days without additional staff.

Legal and operational context: Commissioner Anderson described a planned “real‑time crime center” effort tied to the Statewide Information and Analysis Center that would ingest CAD feeds and other data to give analysts faster situational awareness, especially for school hoaxes and multi‑jurisdiction incidents. DPS said the state operates eight license‑plate reader (LPR) systems currently and that LPRs have been valuable for investigations.

Ending: DPS concluded by asking the committee to consider these items as part of its broader public safety funding priorities. Committee members and presenters emphasized the Aero Bureau’s life‑saving role and encouraged continued support; no formal appropriations vote occurred at the Jan. 31 hearing.