Letter to the Editor from PBA Secretary highlighting Troopers’ responsibilities
PBA, 2004-05-21

On May 16, 2004, The Sunday Gazette newspaper of Schenectady published a Letter to the Editor written by PBA Secretary/Troop G&H Delegate Jeff Kayser. The letter is printed below.

State police worth every penny they’re paid

In reference to Carl Strock’s column (May 9) on troopers’ pay rates, I am responding on behalf of the state Troopers PBA, where I hold a statewide elected office as an executive officer on the board of directors.

Before one takes issue with the amount state troopers are paid, please keep in mind New York state troopers share the common threats that all police officers do, no matter where one patrols.

In addition, some troopers police rural areas with little or no back-up available to them and with an outdated radio system that only sometimes works in those areas.

Trooper Larry Gleason was shot and killed when he answered a lone woman’s call for help because of her deranged boyfriend – I doubt Mr. Strock has the nerve to ask the Gleason family if Larry was paid too much for his brave service. The list of names of fallen troopers is longer than any police agency in New York state outside of New York City.

Additionally, and unique to troopers, troopers are regularly called away from their home stations to respond to major emergencies anywhere across the state. They pack a bag and they leave their families for days at a time to scenes hundreds of miles away.

When TWA Flight 800 went down, state troopers were diving in shark-infested waters, recovering bodies. When terrorists struck on 9/11, there were 500 state troopers in New York City patrolling the streets of Manhattan by nightfall – and we stayed through the following February. Those are just two particular responses, but there have been many others.

Drug buys in inner cities, brush fires on Long Island, Indian uprisings, ice storms in the North Country, riding trains in New York City, bomb disposals statewide – troopers were there.

When a major tragedy strikes anywhere in this state and a large police presence is called for, it will be the men and women of the state police who you will see there.

Mr. Strock rests soundly under the blanket of protection that police officers provide, yet he berates them constantly.

Jeffrey Kayser, Albany