THE UNION OF TEXAS STATE TROOPERS AT WORK

Texas State Troopers Association fighting to improve working conditions

 

By Donaji Sanchez 

KFDA

Sep 18, 2024 

 

Texas Department of Public Safety troopers

 

AMARILLO, Texas -- The Texas State Troopers Association (TSTA) is fighting to improve the lives and working conditions for the Texas Department of Safety’s employees and commissioned officers.

The Board of Directors met and approved the organization’s Legislative Priorities that starts in January 2025 which applies to both active and retired employees.

Some priorities include, simplifying the hiring process in order to bolster the number of DPS employees and state troopers.

“There are things that can be done to stream line the process, maybe by a month or two because typically what happens is you apply and you have to wait for an academy to start after all the application process has been completed,” said Billy Shelton, board director for TSTA.

TSTA will provide state troopers with the best equipment, including anti-choking and life-saving gear. Troopers will also receive a 13th Check or a Cost of Living Adjustment that has not been done since 2001.

“We have right now, roughly a 122,000 retirees. If you look at the majority of those people, they are living on a monthly retirement of about $1800 dollars a month,” said Shelton.

TSTA will also promote legislation to easily facilitate the hiring of out-of-state commissioned officers who want to move into Texas and become state troopers.