Governor Nathan Deal hosted a pretty big crowd at the state capitol on Thursday. Joined by the usual crowd of Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, House Speaker David Ralston and members of the General Assembly were dozens of law enforcement officers and representatives from various state law agencies. It’s not clear how many of them were aware of just what they were turning out for but the reception of the biggest announcement of the day was raucous. Deal announced state law enforcement officers would be getting a 20% pay raise, effective January 1.
This is in addition to the six percent pay increase Deal asked for from the General Assembly this past session. There are nearly 3,500 personnel of the GBI, State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Departments of Natural Resources, Public Safety, Community Supervision, Corrections, and Juvenile Justice that will receive this increase. All told, the salary increases will add up to nearly $79 million.
According to Deal, eight local law enforcement organizations pay their entry-level officers more than the starting salary for a state trooper. Following this increase, GSP troopers will have the highest base salary of any law enforcement personnel in the state. There are likely many mayors across the state who are shuddering at the increased pressure to give raises to their own police departments. The increase also means Georgia moves from sixth to third in the Southeast for highest paid troopers and from 40th nationally to 24th.
Men’s New York Jets New Era Green Marl Cuffed Knit Hat With Pom, cheap nfl jerseys,Men’s Baltimore Ravens New Era Black Solid Cuffed Knit Hat, wholesale jerseys from china, wholesale jerseys,Youth Oakland Raiders Derek Carr Nike White Game Jersey., wholesale jerseys from china
The pay increase is only the first piece however of Deal’s plan to increase the quality of Georgia’s law enforcement. Working with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, Deal’s office evaluated the training all POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training Council)-certified law enforcement undergo in order to develop the best strategies to improve it going forward. Officers may find this part less thrilling than the pay increase. The state is increasing the number of courses required for certification by the Training Center. Two courses will be added to the 11-week training program, one of which will be an elective chosen by the officer. The state will also expand Crisis Intervention Training, the program which specifically addresses dealing with individuals with mental disorders. Previously, the GBI performed this training which, due to logistics, limited its ability. The program will now be under the Georgia Public Safety Training Center so it can be utilized by the nearly 60,000 state and local officers in Georgia. The governor’s office will also be forming a task force to establish competency-based standards for any training course revisions deemed appropriate.
Deal also managed to work in a quote from legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey that captured his appreciation for law enforcement: “The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.” Deal did not quote the next line from the monologue – “And, of course, he’d have to be genius….For he will have to feed a family on a policeman’s salary” – but, thanks to Deal’s actions today, that part might be a little easier.
