Public Safety Department Gears Up For More Cost Cuts

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced another round of cost-saving measures as a result of the budget shortfall for fiscal year 2017.

The measures include a 100 mile driving restriction for Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) troopers each day, cutting down the flight hours of the OHP helicopter and making manpower adjustments to overnight dispatch.

According to DPS, there are 805 troopers statewide who are responsible for patrolling nearly 112,000 miles of roadway.

DPS Commissioner Michael C. Thompson said those troopers normally have the freedom to go wherever they need to go to get the job done, but now in an effort to cut down on fuel costs, they'll have to manage their mileage.

“I understand this isn’t popular and troopers aren’t happy about this, but we’re having to do everything that we can in order to avoid furloughing people that work for the Department of Public Safety,” Thompson said.

Thompson said troopers on patrol will be more stationary so that they can save up mileage to respond to calls.

“If the troopers are given a call and it exceeds their 100 mile limit, it does. We understand that. And it is not as if the car is going to drop off or anyone is going to be called in or we’re going to bang out fists on the table – that’s unreasonable. But we’re just asking our troopers to try to help us get through this crisis that we’re in right now,” he added.

Last month, OHP's role in public safety was on display near Hammon, when Trooper Brian Castanza was the first on fugitive Michael Vance's tail in the final stretch of the manhunt, before Vance was killed.

“Brian Castanza drove 237 miles to be in position to help his partners and protect people in western Oklahoma. That’s the level of sacrifice that troopers make for Oklahoma every day. And we just need support right now from the public,” Thompson told News 9.

Starting Dec. 1, after the changes are implemented, Thompson said the public could see longer wait times for non-emergency calls.

“Hopefully we won’t have to do this for a long period of time,” he added.

Among other cuts, helicopter flight hours are also being reduced along with changes to overnight dispatch manpower.

This is on top of the hiring freeze and other cuts for fiscal year 2017.