DPS to lay off 117 officers in light of budget cuts
Texas Department of Public Safety officials announced Friday they have hired 97 new highway patrol officers even though earlier this week, the state Public Safety Commission approved plans to lay off 117 officers and eliminate an additional 60 positions.
First reported Friday by KXAN, the public safety agency by May 31 will eliminate its so-called retire/rehire program, which allows retired officers to be rehired. Established in 2002 to remedy a workforce shortage, the $15 million program encourages the retention of highly experienced officers who get to draw on their pensions while earning a monthly salary.
“This was a very difficult but necessary decision to address the budget cuts implemented during the 85th Legislative Session, which amounted to $50 million — 177 commissioned positions and 148 non-commissioned positions,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a memo.
The DPS had about 4,330 commissioned officer positions in fiscal 2017.
The Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association, which represents the interests of employees in DPS, suggested the lay offs were discriminatory against older officers.
Read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/dps-lay-off-117-officers-light-budget-cuts/qLcJrPJxJOMcVdtdHfPfmJ/?ref=cbTopWidget
= new reply since forum marked as read
