Published:
West Virginia Public Safety Officers to Hold Public Forum on June 29
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - West Virginia state troopers, supporters and concerned members of the
public will meet on Monday, June 29, 2009, at 5:00 pm, at the Charleston
Civic Center, to spotlight the devastating impact of state officials
allowing the Public Employees Insurance Agency to make critical
decisions that affect public safety. Following that public forum,
troopers and public supporters will attend the public hearing being by
PEIA in the Charleston Civic Center.
State leaders are permitting the PEIA finance board to decide issues of
public safety and make changes to the benefits of State Police officers.
"This is a dangerous approach to addressing law enforcement and other
public safety issues," said President John W. Smith of the West Virginia
Troopers Association.
"Decisions that will have long lasting negative affects on the citizens
of this State must be decided in a public forum, in a way that allows
for careful deliberation and decisionmaking, not by a board that only
focuses on its own financial responsibilities," Smith said.
West Virginia already struggles to provide adequate law enforcement
coverage to its citizens, providing only 1.69 officers for every 1,000
residents. The national average is 2.5 officers for every 1, 000
residents. "West Virginia ranks 50th out of the 50 states in
terms of government dollars spent for police protection. Our citizens
deserve better, and arbitrary decisions by a financial board will not
help West Virginians get the public safety protections they deserve,"
Smith said.
Smith encouraged members of the public to attend the event on Monday,
June 29, at 5 p.m. "It's a disturbing thought to think that you can
spend a career putting your life on the line, rushing into danger to
ensure the safety of others, only to be unable to have affordable health
care upon retirement," he said.
WVA Troopers Association
John W. Smith Jr., President
304-345-9882
wvtapresident@yahoo.com
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