Department of Public Safety seeks funding to stabilize patrol staffing, upgrade radios and expand protective services

The Department of Public Safety presented multiple budget requests to the Ways and Means Criminal Justice Subcommittee focused on stabilizing field staffing, modernizing communications infrastructure, and funding statewide body-camera support.

Albert Woods (DPS) said recent appropriations helped stabilize highway patrol staffing and described how last year’s raises were targeted to post-level positions to reduce turnover. Woods reported patrol manpower rose slightly from 772 to 777 since last year and said the agency applied prior funds to post-level pay, adjustments for sergeants and first sergeants to reduce pay compression, and retention measures.

DPS asked for roughly $1.7 million to fund its career path/step structure, $4.8 million to add about 20 Bureau of Protective Services officers plus five telecommunications operators and supervisors, and $1.09 million for workers’ compensation premium and insurance reserve increases. The agency requested $2.7 million to close an operating gap for State Transport Police (commercial motor vehicle enforcement) that emerged as mix‑app grant funds increasingly fund salaries; $1.9 million for law-enforcement equipment and Axon/professional license upgrades; nearly $7 million for telecommunications-console upgrades and $1 million for radio life-cycle replacement; and $2 million for DTO shared services modernization.

Woods also requested $7.6 million to bolster the statewide body-worn camera fund and $5.1 million in authorization to spend federal grant money for an electronic collision-data program. He told members that many local agencies depend on state-managed body-camera resources and that existing fund levels (about $2.4 million) fall short of roughly $10 million in annual requests.

Committee members thanked DPS leaders and signaled further committee review. No formal votes were taken.