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Police money is well spent...
It has a long way to go before it meets the needs of the future.
That may sound like the pessimistic way to greet news that for the first time in 30 years, the Virginia State Police are at virtually full strength.
For three decades, the State Police have been undermanned. That means Virginians have not been receiving the level of protection they are entitled to expect.
Recent pay for state police has been too low to attract and retain troopers. There have even been reports of state troopers on food stamps.
Last week Gov. Mark Warner announced the turnaround."Over the last four years, working with legislators, we have taken steps to make sure our state troopers got the pay they deserve for putting their lives on the line," he said.
The department's authorized strength is 1,890 persons. Among sworn officers, there are currently no hiring vacancies. The additional troopers will come on board this month and next March from two new police academy classes.
However, just to man special units and maintain current workload in fast-growing Virginia, the department will need another 422 officers in coming years.
An internal report recommends adding 100 sworn officers a year for the next six years at a cost of $59 million.
Virginia needs the police coverage. Gangs have infiltrated even small cities. Illegal drugs are a problem everywhere, including newer abuses such as methamphetamines and OxyContin. Highways are jammed with traffic, with an increasing number of enraged drivers at the wheel.
This is cache, read story here