Rising fuel costs force cutbacks in Oklahoma Department of Public Safety
The cuts do not extend to law enforcement.
The cuts do not extend to law enforcement.
The cuts do not extend to law enforcement.
Rising fuel costs have forced cutbacks throughout the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
The cuts do not extend to law enforcement. The price of gas is up about 60% from this time last year.
On Tuesday, KOCO 5 was told by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol that DPS is cutting back everywhere but law enforcement in order to keep troopers on the road.
Trooper Eric Foster said they use 100,000 gallons of fuel every month. The current average cost of a gallon of gas in Oklahoma is $4.57 and a year ago, it was $2.80.
This means the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is having to spend an extra $177,000 this month compared to last June and $45,000 more than just a month ago.
Foster said they are putting no limits on law enforcement response but to do that, other departments within DHS, from wrecker services to HR to training to the mailroom, are being told to find places to cut back and save money.