Governor Bentley Details Law Enforcement Efficiency Plans, Upcoming Legislation
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: January 22, 2013
Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday announced comprehensive plans to further streamline and better coordinate
state-level law enforcement services, a move that will lead to stronger public safety and greater government efficiency.
Currently,
more than 20 state-level agencies and departments have various law
enforcement functions. By improving coordination between those
agencies,
the Governor's plans will help minimize redundancies in administrative
functions and focus more resources on strengthening the law enforcement
services delivered to the public.
"The
end result will be improved public safety," Governor Bentley said. "By
reducing duplications in administrative functions, we can save taxpayer
dollars while putting more law enforcement on the road. In outlining
these plans, I have worked closely with law enforcement officials over a
period of several months. It's important that we continue to rely on
the expertise of these law enforcement professionals
who understand the needs of each agency."
A
large portion of the Governor's plans can move forward immediately by
executive order. Governor Bentley also plans to further his efficiency
efforts
through upcoming legislation that is currently being finalized.
Executive Order:
Governor
Bentley's executive order, signed Tuesday and effective immediately,
will allow state-level law enforcement agencies to build upon recent
efforts to improve coordination. Specifically, the executive order
creates the position of Senior Law Enforcement Advisor. Alabama
Department of Homeland Security Director Spencer Collier will serve in
this position.
Responsibilities of the Senior Law Enforcement Advisor will include:
- Emphasizing the placement of more law enforcement officers in the field while minimizing administrative redundancies within each agency
- Providing efficiencies through common purchasing, consolidation of law enforcement fleet maintenance and a unified communication infrastructure
- Establishing and maintaining a database of available state law enforcement resources and services in a manner that will minimize duplications of activities and better coordinate training
- Serving as the primary point of contact for the Governor regarding state law enforcement issues
The
Senior Law Enforcement Advisor will ensure greater coordination by
working closely with the leadership of all state agencies providing law
enforcement
or public safety functions, including but not limited to:
- The Alabama Department of Public Safety
- The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
- The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- The Alabama Department of Homeland Security
- The Alabama Department of Insurance / State Fire Marshal
"We
want to make law enforcement even more effective for the citizens. One
directive I'm giving Spencer Collier is this: Every law enforcement
officer,
no matter what agency, when that officer encounters a problem, the
officer will own that problem until the issue is resolved," Governor
Bentley said. "Even if it's just to stay with someone on the side of
the road until further help arrives, I want to make
sure all officers from all agencies increase their coordination in
serving the public together."
Upcoming Legislation:
Governor
Bentley also announced Tuesday that legislation aimed at further
streamlining state-level law enforcement is currently being finalized
and
will be submitted to the Alabama Legislature during the 2013 Regular
Session.
The
legislation will call for absorbing the law enforcement functions of
the Alabama Public Service Commission, the Uniformed Division of the
Alabama
Department of Revenue and certain functions of the Law Enforcement Unit
of the Alabama Department of Transportation into the Highway Patrol
Division of the Department of Public Safety.
Legislation
will also call for absorbing the Investigative and Enforcement Unit of
the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and the Enforcement
Division of the Alabama Forestry Commission into the Alabama Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources. This will help farmers and
landowners by further protecting land and resources. Upcoming
legislation will also call for absorbing the Alabama Criminal
Justice Information Center into the Alabama Department of Public Safety.
In Summary:
"These
plans represent the best approach to improving efficiency in public
safety," Governor Bentley said. "We are taking a rational and
reasonable
approach that will provide significant savings while increasing and
supporting law enforcement officers in the field."
In
the months since Governor Bentley established the Integrated State Law
Enforcement Task Force, state agencies have already coordinated services
in new and beneficial ways. For example, the Department of Public Safety
worked with Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Enforcement Agents in a
Labor Day Traffic Blitz that resulted in a much more visible law
enforcement presence. This serves as a strong example
of how agencies can efficiently coordinate their efforts in a way that
improves public safety.
"Under
the direction of Governor Bentley, state law enforcement agencies have
already made great strides in streamlining and coordinating operations,
and the plans announced today will ensure that continues," said Spencer
Collier, Director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security and
Senior Law Enforcement Advisor. "I am committed to the Governor's
mission of increasing efficiency, and I look forward
to serving Governor Bentley as Senior Law Enforcement Advisor."
"I
applaud Governor Bentley for bringing together people with a wealth of
experience in law enforcement to enact these plans for greater
efficiency,"
said Colonel Hugh McCall, director of the Alabama Department of Public
Safety. "We stand united with our state-level law enforcement partners.
By building upon our cooperation with each agency, we will strengthen
the services we provide to the public."
"I
appreciate how Governor Bentley has listened to the input of law
enforcement and has considered the individual needs of each agency, and
the public
we serve, in developing his plans," said Gunter Guy, Commissioner of the
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "We share
Governor Bentley's vision for improved coordination and improved public
safety in Alabama."
