Today, Commissioner Steve Simpson read a letter to the MSTA Board outlining the state’s fiscal condition.  In that letter he also outlined cuts for troopers that will take effect on July 1, 2009.  The following information is taken straight from that letter dated April 15.  “… No one disputes that cutting Public Safety should be last, and our pleas to the Legislature are as well received as anyone in state government. However, deep and painful cuts are eminent. As Commissioner, I will do all things possible to prevent furloughs or a forced reduction in personnel, and after many hours of number crunching with the staff, Department of Finance and Administration, and reviewing the retirement implications on our budget, I have no choice but to announce that the 300 hours of compensatory time will not be paid to retirees who retire after July 1, 2009.  It is my hope to reinstate the practice of making this payment after June 30, 2010, but it appears unlikely at this time the financial picture will allow the 300 hour payment to be reinstated until after fiscal year 2011. … Regrettably, I have also determined that the elimination of the additional 11 hours of compensation to Troopers in the classification of Captain and above, is necessary from and after July 1, 2009. It is my intention to continue the established 171/28 day work cycles, for road troopers, but more severe cuts in the future could require reducing schedules to 160/28 day cycles. …  I sincerely regret the hardship these decisions will cause and can only ask you to join me in my gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to have employment in such a rewarding and meaningful agency, when others, less fortunate, will surely become unemployed in the months to come.  Thank you for your continued dedication and service.  Sincerely, Stephen B. Simpson, Commissioner, DPS.”   Thank you Commissioner Simpson and Colonel Michael Berthay for being open and upfront with troopers.  We should all pledge to work with Commissioner Simpson, Colonel Berthay, and Lt. Colonel Berry in making sure that there are no more cuts to the highway patrol.  Moving our schedules back to 160/28 would be a loss of about 5,000 enforcement hours.  If that were to happen, we could see fatalities increase, drunk drivers free to roam our roads, and innocent people put in harms way if dangerous drivers are not put out of commission.  Stand together to help make sure that public safety is a TOP priority for the legislature when they come back into session on May 4!