That could mean residents in some rural areas could have a harder time getting help when they need it.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has asked state agencies, including OSP, to outline potential impacts of a 17 percent cut to their budgets. In this worst-case scenario, OSP officials say they might have to close nine offices across the state, including one in Josephine County.
“You’re taking a call load that the Oregon State Police may have handled, and you’re now adding that onto an already struggling sheriff’s office,” Sheriff Dave Daniel says.
Daniel says rural areas would likely experience longer response times.
“Troopers [based in Josephine County] would be relocated to the Central Point office,” Daniel says. “There still would be some assigned to Josephine County; however, you’re looking at a 50-minute response time from Central Point to the city of Cave Junction.”
Josephine County had long relied on OSP to fill coverage gaps off state highways. Although the county has hired more deputies in recent years, Daniel says law enforcement coverage is still strained.
In addition to the Grants Pass office, OSP officials say they might have to close offices in St. Helens, Tillamook, McMinnville, Government Camp, Hermiston, Albany, Prineville, and La Pine — if they’re expected to make a 17 percent budget cut.
State agencies will know more about how severe these cuts will be following a budget report due next week.
