What is the largest issue facing the Department of Public Safety?
Our most pressing problem is staffing. Not having an adequate amount of personnel restricts our ability to effectively deal with issues in an adequate time frame. Requests for service frequently stack up causing frustration and anxiety for everyone involved. The staffing shortage is across all DPS divisions including AST, AWT, Fire Prevention and the Crime Lab. Being short handed also leads to personnel feeling overworked and unproductive. The hectic pace drives valued employees to seek out other employment opportunities or they take an early retirement. This only perpetuates the staffing shortage. Operating understaffed limits our ability to institute proactive safety measures and often forces us to be only reactive. Bottom Line: We recognize that we have difficulties recruiting and retaining quality employees and we are actively addressing this issue. Once the department is fully staffed, many problems will be alleviated. Community and legislative support: In order to effectively com
