By David Tirrell-Wysocki
Associated Press
CONCORD, N.H. - Safety Commissioner John Barthelmes is asking permission to move state Highway Patrol officers from the Division of Motor Vehicles to the State Police.
more stories like thisBoth divisions are under the supervision of Barthelmes, but the move would require the approval of Governor John Lynch and the Executive Council.
Virginia Beecher, DMV director, opposes the move, and a state lawmaker promised to file legislation to reverse the transfer if it is approved and current Highway Enforcement duties are ignored.
Beecher’s office referred calls yesterday to Barthelmes.
Barthelmes said the consolidation would save money and provide flexibility that will improve safety.
The 80 Highway Patrol officers wear uniforms and drive vehicles similar to State Police. Their primary duties include commercial vehicle enforcement, regulation of motor vehicle dealers, and investigation of identify theft and title fraud.
If the governor and council approve the proposal, Barthelmes said, the new State Police Bureau of Driver and Vehicle Regulation will provide all the services Highway Patrol officers now perform. “It does not make sense to have two similarly qualified police forces within the Department of Safety, but administered under the direction of two different divisions,” Barthelmes said yesterday.
Barthelmes said he will present the request at the Jan. 16 Governor and Council meeting and ask that it be made effective Feb. 1.
State Representative Sherman Packard, Republican of Londonderry, said that when the two forces were combined once before, highway truck inspections and other highway enforcement officer duties suffered.
“I’m just very concerned the same thing is going to happen again,” Packard said.
Packard agreed that the transfer might save money, “but if the work doesn’t get done, then the money-saving part is not right.”
The troopers and Highway Patrol officers are represented by separate unions, which have squabbled over website names, fund-raising, personal slights, and accusations of interference in investigations.
Barthelmes said that the officers would continue to be represented by their respective unions and that their current salaries would be maintained. Highway Patrol ranks and titles, however, would be adjusted to coincide with those doing similar work in the State Police, he said.
“If approved, the transfer of these personnel to State Police will relieve the DMV of the responsibility of operating its own police force” and allow it to focus on customer service, he said.