The Kentucky Revised Statues require the Kentucky State Police to provide protection for the General Assembly and Legislative Research Commission.
Just for your reference:
6.420 Department of Kentucky State Police to provide protection for facilities and property of General Assembly and Legislative Research Commission.
The Department of Kentucky State Police shall furnish adequate protection for the property and facilities of the General Assembly and the Legislative Research Commission, both during and between sessions of the General Assembly, and shall render such additional security services as may be required by the co-chairmen of the Legislative Research Commission.
Effective: June 26, 2007
History: Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 85, sec. 1, effective June 26, 2007. — Created 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 378, sec. 1, effective June 17, 1978.
That typically wouldn’t be an issue. Primarily because there’s no question the state legislature needs security while in session. But in the face of police budget cuts, why is it necessary to have the KSP providing this protection 24/7? Why can’t private security guards be used? Because it’s kind of important to keep the KSP out and about protecting Kentucky in general.
That’s a minor concern, really.
What takes the cake? The fact that the KSP has to travel with David Williams and the big dogs when they travel out of state. Why the hell would a Kentucky legislator need police protection to go anywhere, let alone somewhere outside the Commonwealth? It boggles the mind.
But take a look at the data I just got from the Kentucky State Police detailing state police personnel travel costs for the 2008-2009 General Assembly:
2008
- Cost to provide meals and lodging for 2008 travel: $11,043.49
- Cost for security for 2008 session (includes above): $326,257.46
- Mileage paid for 2008 travel (LRC reimbursed): $3,792.11
- Cost of meals and lodging for 2008 travel (LRC reimbursed): $4,713.85
2009
- Cost to provide meals and lodging for 2009 travel: $3,672.84
- Cost for security for 2009 session (includes above): $230,518.84
- Mileage paid for 2009 travel (LRC reimbursed): $1,289.40
- Cost of meals and lodging for 2009 travel (LRC reimbursed): $1,218.84
That’s $567,790.50. Yet David Williams and Greg Stumbo have the gall to complain about cutting this budget or that.
These numbers are absolutely obscene. Why on Earth are we forcing the KSP to spend its own money to protect these buffoons?
Really? Police protection for a Kentucky legislator when they leave the state?
19 responses so far ↓
1 AttentionWhore // Mar 5, 2010 at 2:45 pm
No one knows who David Williams is outside of the state…this is outrageous.
2 Belknap Banquo // Mar 5, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Agreed that these numbers are out of line, especially out of state protection where no one would know Stumbo or Williams from Adam. Good gig for a cop, perhaps? However, somewhat in Williams’ defense, the horror of the murder of Burkesville prosecutor Fred Capps, who died defending his family in his own home and killed his attacker in the process, could very well imprint itself into the mindset of a public official like Williams. Just a thought.
3 kentondem1 // Mar 5, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Oh my God!
Jake please tell me it is a joke.
4 lexdem // Mar 5, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Belknap, I agree that Mr. Capps’ murder was horrific. As you pointed out, though, that happened in his own home and not while he was at the NCSL meeting in Phoenix (or whatever), or even at a county fair in Kentucky. State police protection would do NOTHING to prevent that.
Unless the KSP has officers outside Williams’ & Stumbo’s homes 24 hours a day…and if so that will also be infuriating.
5 wondering // Mar 5, 2010 at 3:45 pm
And why do KSP troopers go with sports coaches to out-of-state games? I’ve seen troopers in uniforms standing near Rich Brooks at away games and have seen them escorting him off the field after the games.
But I won’t argue if it keeps a few of them off the interstates and parkways writing speeding tickets to people who know that speed limits should be set by engineers, not politicians.
6 UK Alumni // Mar 5, 2010 at 3:46 pm
Half a million dollars because Williams is a bed-wetting fraidy cat? Outrageous.
Put the money into the chools and tell Williams to man up.
7 Belknap Banquo // Mar 5, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Agreed, lexdem, and it would be an interesting project for some enterprising reporter to compare what “protective” services are provided pols in say Missouri, Tennesse, Indiana and Ohio. I know for certain that in many of those state capitol and legislative buildings you don’t have near the security as you encounter in Frankfort.
8 immelmann // Mar 5, 2010 at 8:34 pm
attributing security “session” costs to williams is wrong. that total covers all house and senate members, public visitors, staff and agency heads who testify.
as for williams, has anyone considered there might be credible information justifying police being with him? maybe there is, maybe not, but a distinct possibility.
9 jake // Mar 5, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Like when he went to Philly and flew but had the KSP drive a van all the way just so he wouldn’t have to walk around while there?
Yeah.
Try again.
10 BoJo // Mar 5, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Why send them to protect anyone out of state? They have no more police powers than I do. They are nothing more than errand boys for the legislators and have no authority to do anything but call 911 if something happened. What a waste of taxpayer money. When will everyone figure out what a farce these guys really are? I have a friend that works for KSP and the troopers hate going on these trips. They don’t like cowering down to these losers and know they cant do anything if something were to happen when out of state
11 jake // Mar 5, 2010 at 9:57 pm
The more I think about it, the more pissed I get that the KSP is forced to pay for all this on its own.
We’re taking advantage of the KSP when it’s already spread thin.
12 oh really ? // Mar 6, 2010 at 11:16 am
King David – the emperor has no clothes – ugh what a repulsive thought!!
13 JTT // Mar 6, 2010 at 11:49 am
Actually, the guys guarding the Capitol, although they fall under KSP, are not troopers, they are much lower paid Special Law Enforcement Officers (SLEOs) – who only have law enforcement jurisdiction on the property. However, it would have to be troopers traveling with them, and I’ll note, they have zero police powers outside Kentucky anyway – so it is all for show.
14 immelmann // Mar 6, 2010 at 4:56 pm
you better study interstate compacts in law enforcemet. also there are two police organizations in the capitol and annex, not just one when the legislature is in session. ksp troopers are stationed there.
15 jake // Mar 6, 2010 at 5:06 pm
The point is: KSP is paying for this with an already strapped budget and when officers are spread thinly.
16 James R. // Mar 7, 2010 at 9:01 am
Whats wrong with cutting school funding instead of police protection for Williams? Why isnt this in the Courier and the Herald Leader?
17 JTT // Mar 7, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Im, there are no “interstate compacts” in law enforcement, trust me. They’ll talk about them, and there is the right for an active or retired officer to carry concealed, but that does not vest any powers in them. Ask them to show you this so-called compact in writing, it isn’t there. (There are compacts for emergency stuff, but not for guarding a politician or sports figure.) There is usually a trooper or two around the Capitol during the session, but the bulk of the guarding is done with the regular, year-round, Capitol police. Since you have to come in and out the one entrance now – it isn’t that tough of a gig. Busy, yes, but not difficult, since only visitors have to be checked. Show up with a state ID and they wave you through anyway.
18 jake // Mar 7, 2010 at 12:26 pm
It doesn’t matter whether or not State Troopers have an “interstate compact” or not. The issue here is… what I said above:
KSP is paying for this with an already strapped budget and when officers are spread thinly.
19 Richard // Mar 8, 2010 at 10:53 am
Minor note, but I think there are two ts in “butt.”
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