Illinois proposes cutting nearly 30% of state troopers

[The Northerner]

Source: WGEM

Macomb, IL (WGEM) -- Statewide trooper numbers would be cut from 2,000 to around 1,400. That's nearly a 30 percent cut.

The District 14 State Police headquarters covers five counties in west central Illinois. Closing that office would force surrounding districts to absorb those counties. Aside from the roadway safety, residents and agencies are worried about response times in emergencies.

Dozens of state police in addition to local law enforcement responded to the Macomb Farm King standoff in February. But major layoffs appear imminent to the Macomb state police headquarters, pulling all 32 troopers off duty.

Thinking back to the standoff, That has Farm King manager Jeff Nimrick uneasy.

"I had no idea how many were actually here until I was on the phone with the 911 operator," Nimrick said. "And when I got out of the building that day...just to see that they were surrounded. It was a real secure feeling knowing that someone was there taking care of the issue."

Read more: http://www.wgem.com/Global/story.asp?S=12198160

[midnight]

1. Will these jobs be given to private contractors?

[rantormusing]

2. I drive past a highschool everyday,

and see row upon row of various police cars. Usually around ten, it's long overdue for law enforcement to trim the fat.

Overflowing and overpaid!

[Dappleganger]

8. Those aren't state troopers, they are local. nt

[rantormusing]

9. That i know

But just seeing any type of cuts in law enforcement is a good thing. Different department, but i don't think my example loses any of its validity.

[truthisfreedom]

3. Seriously, online editing SUCKS these days. " Thinking back to the standoff"... what standoff?

They introduce a standoff and never describe what it was about? Cripes!

[FarCenter]

5. Police ID suspected gunman found dead in Macomb Farm King standoff

http://www.wgem.com/global/story.asp?s=11927114

[madrchsod]

4. that is factoring retirements that won`t be replaced...

over the next few years. it`s not a good situation here in illinois.

[davsand]

6. Scare hell out of the Illinois voters so we won't bitch so loud when they increase the income tax.

"Layoffs!" "Education Funding Cuts!" "Social Services Gutted!" "Reduced Police Protection!"

Those are all major talking points guaranteed to anesthetize the Illinois voters when the subject of an Income Tax increase comes up. Quinn knows it is coming and Madigan knows full well there is no other way--but they are worried about doing it in an election year.

You gotta love the Illinois Dem party. You can always find us by following the bloody footprints where we shot ourselves in the foot.



Laura

[tritsofme]

7. I know the solution, write more seatbelt tickets!

They are amazing safety revenue devices.

[Doctor_J]

10. Just what the teabaggers want - PD's are socialist cells

I have been paying for police for 35 years, and never had to call one. So I guess all of that money went to waste :sarcasm:

[Ildem09]

11. Our state is in dire straits

The proposed 1% increase in the Income Tax from 3% to 4% will only provide for education relief. To actually address our structural debt of 13Billion and our unfunded pension mandates we would either have to Gut services to 1990 levels or find a tax scheme to generate those lost billions.

Illinois is banned by state constitution from having a progressive income tax. (it was made in 1977, Republicans were in control) Then the Blagojevich fiasco ensued, to be fair Blago did increase services across the board, thusly bloating the budget, but he proposed several methods to pay for them. However, Michael Madigan had a fierce hatred of Blago and thwarted all efforts at raising revenue. Which Madigan is generally opposed to raising taxes anyway.

Another problem is Illinois is ranked 48th in new Business creation. we hemorrhaged roughly 100,000 manufacturers in the last 10 years

A Value Added Tax of 7% would eliminate 7 separate taxes and raise general funds to almost close the budget shortfalls