NCSL Brief: Emergency Stretches Police Thin

(This is one of a series of briefs written by NCSL, "Protecting Democracy: States Respond to Terrorism.")

Emergency Stretches Police Thin

By L. Cheryl Runyon and Heather Morton

The thin blue line has been stretched thinner in response to the call to protect citizens from terrorists following the September 11 attacks. Cities, counties and states are responding, but additional law enforcement officers and equipment will be needed.

Police departments across the nation have been assigned additional duties--from patrolling airports to responding to hazardous materials calls--since the terrorist attacks. "Our bomb squad has responded to more calls than I ever remember seeing," says Los Angeles Police Lieutenant Horace Frank. Many large police departments have had to shuffle jobs, assign mandatory overtime and increase recruiting efforts. Overtime, however, is a quick fix that cuts into city budgets. And cities with high costs of living have had difficulty hiring and retaining police officers anyway: The average annual salary for a rookie cop is $32,000.

In addition to the police, more than 55,000 National Guard and reserve members have been called to active duty to support homeland defense. National Guard and reservists provide air defense, airport and port security, military police, engineering and intelligence support. To boost airport security, the Federal Aviation Administration asked for deployment of approximately 7,000 National Guard troops throughout the nation's 422 commercial airports. National Guard members were trained in airport security techniques, including passenger and baggage screening, conflict management and handling of deadly materials. In addition, National Guard members are protecting the U.S. Capitol, temporarily relieving the 1,295-officer Capitol police force. The National Guard are stationed on streets around the Capitol complex to inspect trucks and direct traffic.

To add to the strain on local police forces, many of the activated troops hold full-time positions as law enforcement officers, border patrol agents, prison guards and medical personnel. Among its 414 sworn officers, for example, the Montgomery, Ala., police department has 74 military personnel. Of the total 528 Colorado State Patrol staff, 52 are members of the military reserves. In Texas, 763 prison system employees serve in the National Guard or reserves.

With the large number of guardsmen and reservists activated, questions have arisen regarding their health benefits and salaries. When called to active duty, employers are not required to pay their regular salaries because guardsmen and reservists are paid by the federal government. However, National Guard and reserve members may have financial difficulties because of the difference between active military pay and their civilian salaries. Companies and state governments are reviewing their military leave policies to determine how to address the pay difference.

State Actions

Several states are addressing these emergency response concerns. The Louisiana Legislature enacted HB 9, which will supplement the compensation paid to those peace officers and firefighters called to active duty in the U.S. armed services.

New York Governor George Pataki announced a program to recruit retired state police officers to fill in where needed. The level of interest has been high among the 255 eligible officers who retired since the end of 1998; estimates are that one-third may return.

North Carolina Governor Mike Easley is requesting a $1.9 million appropriation and authority from the legislature to borrow up to $20 million from the state rainy day fund for new anti-terrorism jobs, training and equipment. This will include six urban search and rescue teams, backup facilities for critical state functions, and the development of a state health alert network for rapid communication among the state's health departments, hospitals and pharmacies. Representative David Redwine, co-chair of the appropriations committee, envisions the creation of a team of doctors and mobile laboratories that can be dispatched anywhere in the state.

Minnesota has received $3.9 million in federal grants for equipment to respond to terrorist attacks. The state Department of Public Safety has conducted more than 120 anti-terrorism training sessions for emergency responders.

Ohio is considering bills that would help national guard members and reservists by exempting military income from state income taxes and adjusting the compensation difference between military and state employee salaries.

Federal Actions

To ease financial burdens on activated guardsmen and reservists, the federal government invoked The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act, which requires Federal Housing Authority-approved lenders to reduce interest rates on mortgage loans for one year. The act also gives eligible military personnel more protection from foreclosures on mortgage loans and more protection against eviction for renters.

Selected References

FEMA Public Affairs. "FEMA Director Announces State Capability Assessment for Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction," Release No. 01-229, Oct. 25, 2001.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 (SSCRA), 50A U.S.C. 501-593.

Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA), Pub. L. 103-353, codified in 38 U.S.C. 4301-4333.

Contacts for More Information

Cheryl Runyon and Heather Morton
NCSL-Denver
(303) 856-1525, ext. 252 and 216
cheryl.runyon@ncsl.org
heather.morton@ncsl.org

National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve

National Guard Bureau

Office of the Secretary of Defense, Reserve Affairs

Other NCSL Resources:

Other NCSL Briefs "States Respond to Terrorism"

NCSL's Protecting Democracy Page

NCSL's 2002 Legislative Session Home Page