David Stevens | Oppose HB1085

The Police Commission is an elected body chosen by the citizens of the community. Residents place their trust and confidence in the Police Commission to make decisions that are in the best interest of the community they serve. State government should not take away the Commission’s authority to make those local decisions. Paragraph IV goes against the long-standing principle that the best decisions are made at the lowest level of government. The state should not dictate how local budget funds are utilized. That responsibility belongs to the Police Commission with respect to the city or town police budget. As we all know, recruiting and maintaining a fully staffed police department is an extremely difficult task. Local Police Commissions are the ones who must manage this ongoing challenge, and they should be allowed to do so without interference from the state. For these reasons, I strongly oppose this bill.