DPS seeks $3.6-M increase in FY 2001 budget

The Department of Public Safety has asked the House Ways and Means Committee for a $3.6 million increase in funding for fiscal year 2001 to cope with the expected increase in police and fire personnel as well as replace obsolete equipment.

This brings to $17.6 million the budget needed by the department to run efficiently, according to DPS Commissioner Charles W. Ingram. So far, the Office of Management and Budget has only given DPS $14 million for FY 2001.

In a letter to Rep. Antonio Camacho, chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Mr. Ingram said the Commissioner’s Office is seeking $50,000 funding which will be used specifically for the Criminal Intelligence Section which is composed of four units — international crimes, domestic crimes, drug trafficking and analysis. The money will be used for operations, travel, purchase of equipment and expenses for confidential informants.

Police training and academy will need $960,000. This amount will be used to put 55 firefighters in one cycle and 45 police officers in one cycle to begin work after graduation.

With the planned acquisition of 16 new patrol cars in FY 2001, the Police Division will spend $50,000 to install the lights, sirens and other equipment for these vehicles.

DPS should promote some police officers to middle management level with the increasing number of inexperienced policemen on the road lacking in proper supervision. The Police Division is asking for additional $100,000 for salaries and wages to pave the way for the promotion of qualified personnel.

Funding for medical care of inmates in compliance with the requirement of Federal Consent Decree has to be increased to $20,000. The Division of Corrections will spend $300,000 to replace the existing interior and exterior perimeter fence.

Mr. Ingram said the staff psychiatrist at the Division of Corrections should work full time which would cost approximately $100,000 including salary and all benefits. Total additional budget for the DOC is $428,000.

Since the Kagman and San Roque fire stations are expected to operate next year, the Fire Division needs $1.35 million more for the 55 full-time employees to man the two stations, acquire equipment to outfit these stations and replace the old and unreliable apparatus for the next fiscal year. Also, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles needs an additional $169,832.

DPS is currently faced with the problem of renovating the corrections to comply with a court order by ensuring that the facility for mentally-ill inmates or detainees are separated in sight, sound and location from other detainees.