Program Authorization: R.S. 15:577; R.S. 15:587; R.S. 15:581.2 et seq.; R.S. 40:1379.3, 1381, and 1382; R.S. 40:1385; R.S. 40:1399

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Operational Support Program in the Office of State Police is to provide essential functions to support the traffic, gaming, and criminal programs.

The goals of the Operational Support Program in the Office of State Police are:

1. Develop innovative initiatives through which the Louisiana State Police will achieve a position of excellence.
2. Seek adequate resources through legislative measures, federal grants and other sources to promote adequate staffing and equipment for the purpose of providing for the public’s safety.
3. Develop new and expanded programs to promote and achieve public safety.

The Operational Support Program includes the following activities: Executive, Crime Laboratory, Protective Services, Department of Public Safety (DPS) Police, Support Services, Air Support, Operational Development, Applied Technology and Internal Affairs

The Crime Laboratory Section provides accurate and timely analysis of evidence. The laboratory offers direct support to law enforcement operations in the area of toxicology, identification and analysis of controlled dangerous substances, firearms, serology, latent prints, trace evidence analysis, photographic support and evidence cataloging. The services are available free of charge to any government agency. Additionally, laboratory personnel support federal and state prosecutors, testify in courts, give depositions, and prepare briefs of analysis. Also, laboratory personnel provide twenty-four hour crime scene assistance for major crime investigations. The Crime Laboratory has four major units: Narcotics, Physical Evidence, Toxicology, Photography. The Narcotics Unit has the responsibility to positively identify substances which are suspected as drugs. This unit receives the majority of all cases received by the entire laboratory. The forensic scientists of this section educate law enforcement agencies regarding drug trends. Additionally, they assist with the processing of large drug seizures and clandestine laboratories. The Physical Evidence Unit respond to crime scene in a timely manner so they can collect and preserve evidence. Examples of services provided are: latent fingerprinting lifting and comparison, ballistic matching of bullets, semen and blood typing. The Toxicology Unit test blood, urine and vitreous for the presence of drugs or alcohol. They must certify other laboratories in the state to run toxicology tests. The Photography Unit receives, logs and processes all film submitted to the laboratory. The film documents crime scenes, criminal investigations, fleet accidents and traffic accidents. This unit is responsible for developing exposed film, printing photographs and maintaining files for future use.

Protective Services, under the authority of Act 681 of 1988 (R.S. 40:1399), provides and maintains security for the governor, his office, the mansion, his immediate family, and other persons authorized by the governor. Currently, the Office of State Police also provides protection for the lieutenant governor.

DPS Police provides security and law enforcement for buildings that are owned by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections in Baton Rouge, including the barracks that house prison inmate trustees. Additionally, the DPS Capitol Police provides security and law enforcement needs for the State Capitol Complex, Governor’s Mansion and other buildings in the capitol area.

Support Services Section includes:

Criminal Identification Bureau, which serves as the central state depository for criminal records. As such, the bureau receives and processes criminal history data from criminal justice agencies throughout the state and the nation. The bureau collects, possesses, stores and disseminates criminal history information and related data (such as rap sheets, fingerprints, and photographs); assists police departments in criminal investigations through expert latent fingerprint comparison and subsequent court testimony; and provides identification of criminals, wanted/missing persons, probation/parole violators, habitual offenders, and unknown deceased persons. Act 941 of 1985 (R.S. 15:587) authorizes the Office of State Police to charge a fee to criminal justice agencies for processing criminal record inquiries.

Support Services includes Fleet Operations, Traffic Records, Property Control, and Police Supply Units. The Office of State Police maintains all Department of Public Safety and Corrections vehicles. All major automotive maintenance and body work has been centralized at LSP headquarters in Baton Rouge. Routine or minor repairs are accomplished at one of nine satellite garages located at State Police installations around the state. An economical aspect of this maintenance is the use of inmate labor. Both mechanical and body repairs are done at the Louisiana State Police Headquarters using inmates assigned to the Correctional Services.

The Concealed Handgun Permit Section, which operates under the authority of Act 4 of the 1996 Extraordinary Session (R.S. 40:1379.3, 1381 and 1382), issues permits that allow Louisiana residents to carry concealed handguns. The section conducts background investigations prior to the issuance of a permit, and it must initiate the revocation process.

The Aircraft Support Unit operates under the authority of Act 507 of 1985 (R.S. 40:1399), provides State Police and local law enforcement with aerial capability. Presently, all helicopters and fixed wing aircraft are assigned to LSP headquarters. While search, rescue, pursuit, and emergency transportation are included among the duties of these aircraft, traffic patrol is their major use. Additionally, fixed wing aircraft are used extensively in the marijuana eradication program as well as for narcotics, criminal, and intelligence-gathering investigations. Currently, the Aircraft Support Unit operates 6 fixed wing aircraft and 7 helicopters with a flight time of over 3,500 hours.

The Operational Development Unit Section directs and controls the development of plans and programs, goals, and various objectives of the department. It is responsible for inspection of the department's personnel, material resources, and procedures. Additionally, it serves as legislative liaison responsible for monitoring bills that affect the department and assists in the preparation of the department's budget and other planning functions.

The Applied Technology Section is responsible for the training and certification of all law enforcement personnel who utilize instruments to detect and measure the alcoholic content of a person's blood. It is also the responsibility of this section to certify the accuracy of blood alcohol testing instruments and filing the necessary documentation with the appropriate criminal justice systems so the results of those instruments can be used in criminal and civil proceedings.

The Internal Affairs Section ensures that the integrity of Public Safety Services agencies is maintained at all times. Responsibilities of the section include: conducting background investigations on all new applicants for employment, conducting investigations relating to internal problems of offices within Public Safety Services, and maintaining up-to-date files (containing information concerning disciplinary actions) on each employee of the Office of State Police. These files contain information concerning the employees' disciplinary actions.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATOR

Unless otherwise indicated, all objectives are to be accomplished during or by the end of FY 1999-2000. Performance indictors are made up of two parts: name and value. The indicator name describes what is being measured. The indicator value is the numeric value or level achieved within a given measurement period. For budgeting purposes, performance indicator values are shown for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and alternative funding scenarios (continuation budget level and Executive Budget recommendation level) for the ensuing fiscal year (the fiscal year of the budget document).

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with State General Fund, Interagency Transfers, Fees and Self-generated Revenues, Statutory Dedications, and Federal Funds. The Interagency Transfers are from other programs within the Department of Public Safety and Corrections and programs outside of the department for gasoline and automotive services purchased. The Fees and Self-generated Revenues are derived from fees assessed for utilization of state police breath alcohol machines, checking of criminal histories, insurance recovery and from fees collected by the Office of Motor Vehicles. The Statutory Dedications are derived from the Riverboat Gaming Enforcement Fund, Public Safety Driving While Intoxicated Testing, Maintenance and Training Fund, and the Concealed Handgun Permit Fund. (Per R.S. 39:32B.(8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.) The Federal Funds are derived from a DNA grant and a drugfire grant.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 98.8% of the existing operating budget. It represents 54.3% of the total request ($90,259,903) for this program. Significant changes include the removal of non-recurring acquisitions, annualization of a salary increase for commissioned personnel, increased funding for aviation repairs, a salary increase for DPS Police, an enhancement of Capitol Security, a means of financing substitution replacing State General Fund with Statutory Dedications from the Riverboat Gaming Enforcement Fund, and the transfer of the Internal Affairs Section, including eight positions from the Bureau of Investigations.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

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