Idaho State Police request staffing, forensic lab and technology changes as vacancies rise

Colonel Bill Gardner, director of the Idaho State Police, and Legislative Services Office analysts briefed the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Feb. 12 about the division’s fiscal 2026 enhancement requests and ongoing budget pressures, as well as staffing shortfalls in several regions.

Analyst Noah Peterson said the division has seven budgeted programs and about 583.67 full‑time positions (FTP) allocated to it. Peterson described several requested enhancements for fiscal 2026: a 10‑member fentanyl trafficking unit ($1,043,300 and 10 FTP); conversion of temporary forensic contractors to full‑time staff; a special investigations unit to handle criminal investigations at Department of Correction facilities (4 FTP, $757,300 total of which $443,300 ongoing and $314,000 one‑time); a forensic deputy lab manager (1 FTP, $118,200); anticipated costs related to legislation expanding DNA collection (estimated $168,100); and a request to shift $4,995,500 and 37.48 FTP from the Law Enforcement Fund because of prior changes to the highway distribution account…