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Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas, 2008-2011
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The Texas Department of Public Safety includes the state highway patrol and the famed Texas Rangers, as well as other divisions. Texas Department of Public Safety employee salaries are public records under the Texas Public Information Act.[1]
Salaries
Sunshine Review filed a Texas Public Information Act request for information on the number of Texas Department of Public Safety] employees earning over $50,000 for the years 2008 to 2011. The department only sent salary information for the years 2008-2010.
A 2008 state audit found the turnover rate for trooper trainees was about 21 percent — in part because of low pay.[2]
The deputy director's annual salary was boosted by 25 percent to $157,500. Five division chiefs made $124,500, up 21 percent. And the emergency management director's pay soared 43 percent to $147,500. In 2008, DPS had just 11 employees earning more than $100,000 a year; in 2010 there were 31, including the addition of a second deputy director with a $212,000 salary.[3] The top pay increases were the direct result of a $1 million consultant's report. It recommended — among other things — adding top more managers and paying competitive salaries.[4]
2008 salaries
According to data provided by DPS, there were more than 1,500 employees earning over $50,000 in 2008.[5] The information includes the name and salary of each employee, but not position within the state organization. Some notable salaries include:
- John Bateman earned a salary of $81756.96
- Judy Brown earned $103,459
- Tully Brown earned $94,998.08
- James Brubaker earned $101,012
- Robert Burroughs earned $94,997.96
- David Campos earned $128,569.92
- Johnna Cantrell earned $80,646.08
- Frank Cantu Jr. earned $80,646.08
- Jackie Colley earned $103,459
- Thomas Davis Jr. earned $105,000
- Steven Davis earned $123,658.92
- Frances Douglas earned $80,646.08
- Ruben Elzondo earned $81,756.96
- Rhonda Fleming earned $86,124.96
- Jesus Flores earned $86,124.96
- Hector Garcia earned $110,398.92
- David Gavin earned $94,997.96
- Keith Gibson earned $82,455.44
- Gregorio Gloria earned $94,997.96
- Travis Hall earned $115,444.84
- Wilburn Hawkins earned $86,124.96
- James Johnson earned $119,900.88
- James Jones earned $101,758.41
- Russel Lecklider Jr. earned $90,422.76
- Jose Munoz earned $115,212.96
- Roberto Pena earned $125,948.88
- Juan Ramos earned $125,948.88
- John Reed earned $112,844.88
- Michael Smith earned $115,423.76
- Ronald Walker earned $112,716.96
- Oscar Ybarra earned $103,459
2009 salaries
According to data provided by DPS, there were more than 1,500 employees earning over $50,000 in 2009.[6] The information includes the name and salary of each employee, but not position within the state organization. Some notable salaries include:
- Daniel Adkins earned $83,059.64
- John Brannon earned $84,150.96
- David Campos earned $130,699.59
- Johnna Cantrell earned $81,714.24
- Frank Cantu Jr. earned $81,714.24
- Johnny Cowan Jr. earned $86,829.24
- Steven Davis earned $102,998.28
- William Diggs Jr. earned $88,214.64
- Rhonda Fleming earned $88,214.64
- Duncan Fox earned $91,092.53
- Sandra Fulenwider earned $99,113.88
- Hector Garcia earned $111,988.24
- Keith Gibson earned $87,706.80
- Gregorio Gloria earned $95,894.12
- Travis Hall earned $118,172.56
- Dennis Johnson earned $90,938.64
- James Johnson earned $122,140.88
- James Jones earned $106,002.92
- Ronald Joy Jr. earned $88,214.64
- Carey Matthews earned $88,176.39
- Michael Moore earned $110,877.28
- Jose Munoz earned $118,025
- Billy Nabors Jr. earned $88,176.39
- Daniel Pena earned $117,506.22
- Roberto Pena earned $128,447.56
- Brad Rable earned $104,250
- Juan Ramos earned $106,748.76
- John Reed earned $114,995.56
- Gary Rozzell earned $112,483.56
- Jose Sanchez earned $114,211.86
- Michael Smith earned $116,411.56
- Michael Smith earned $118,172.56
- Michael Stoner earned $100,076.16
- Ronald Walker earned $114,070.28
- Oscar Ybarra earned $104,829.24
2010 salaries
According to data provided by DPS, there were more than 1,500 employees earning over $50,000 in 2010.[7] The information includes the name and salary of each employee, but not position within the state organization. Some notable salaries include:
- Daniel Adkins earned $88,000
- Philip Allen earned $92,394
- Joseph Armistead Jr. earned $104,829.24
- David Baker earned $126,416.67
- David Barringer earned $90,000
- Randy Batten earned $92,394
- Louis Beaty earned $92,394
- Lamar Beckworth earned $170,625
- Robert Bodisch Sr. earned $131,458.30
- Renearl Bowie earned $124,500
- Richard Brown earned $112,780.92
- Robert Brown earned $112,741
- Joe Byrd earned $92,394
- David Campos earned $126,439.93
- Johnny Cowan Jr. earned $91,944.24
- William Diggs Jr. earned $92,394
- Todd Early earned $94,108.07
- Jesus Flores earned $92,394
- Sandra Fulenwider earned $104,829.24
- Valerie Fulmer earned $124,500
- Billy Fulton earned $117,000
- Hector Garcia earned $112,845.16
- Luis Gonzales earned $117,000
- Thomas Haas earned $102,256.20
- Skylor Hearn earned $1144,56.52
- James Johnson earned $124,897.03
- Michael Johnson earned $159,480
- John Jones Jr. earned $126,416.67
- James Jones earned $110,216
- Bryan Lane earned $120,000
- Antonio Leal III earned $126,416.67
- Russell Lecklider earned $104,000.04
- Kim Lee earned $90.000
- Michael Lesko earned $1048,29.24
- John Madden earned $104,829.24
- Steven McCraw earned $162,000
- Michael Moore earned $116,293.43
- Wayne Meuller earned $104,829.24
- Jose Ortiz III earned $115,985.57
- David Palmer earned $92,394
- Daniel Pena earned $121,822.72
- Roberto Pena earned $133,444.92
- Terry Preston earned $92.394
- Brad Rable earned $141,333.28
- Steven Radney earned $96,093.47
- Juan Ramos earned $149,978.94
- John Reed earned $119,296.92
- Jose Rodriguez III earned $117,000
- Glenn Rosamond earned $120,000
- Gary Rozzell earned $116,652.84
- Thomas Ruocco earned $126,416.67
- Michael Simpson earned $124,500
- Brian Smallwood earned $123,333.36
- Michael Smith earned $119,254.92
- Michael Smith earned $123,585.24
- Paul Watkins earned 103,999.92
- Jackie Webster earned $117,000
- Jesse White earned $110,653.09
- Henry Whitman Jr. earned $104,829.24
- L. Wilson earned $117,000
- James Woodall Jr. earned 104,829.24
- Oscar Ybarra earned $104,829.24
Benefits
Sunshine Review filed a Texas Public Information Act request for information regarding dollar figures for benefits paid by Texas Department of Public Safety in 2008 to 2011. The department only sent total benefits paid information for 2011.
- Employer Match LECOS (Law Enforcement Retirement) - $2,144,552.28
- Employer Match Retired ((ERS - State Retiremenr) - $17,138,512.94
- State Paid SKIP - $187,433.36
- State Paid Health Insurance - $34,511,681.37
Phone use
Sunshine Review filed a Texas Public Information Act request for information on the number of cellular telephones and mobile devices issued to Texas Department of Public Safety employees. The department said it was still compiling that information and would provide it when available.[8]
Car use
Sunshine Review filed a Texas Public Information Act request for information on the number of automobiles approved for 24-hour use issued to Texas Department of Public Safety employees. The department responded that they were unable to determine what information Sunshine Review was seeking.[9]
Salary records project
In 2011, Sunshine Review chose 152 local governments as the focus of research on public employee salaries. The editors of Sunshine Review selected eight states with relevant political contexts (listed alphabetically):
1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. New Jersey
6. Pennsylvania
7. Texas
8. Wisconsin
Within these states, the editors of Sunshine Review focused on the most populous cities, counties and school districts, as well as the emergency services entities within these governments. The purpose of this selection method was to develop articles on governments affecting the most citizens.
The salary information garnered from these states were a combination of existing online resources and state Freedom of Information Act requests sent out to the governments.
A study published by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia said the city of Philadelphia faced challenges owing to the cost of public employee pensions.[10] The report claimed the amount that Philadelphia paid to pension recipients limited the city’s ability to use its budget effectively.
The report said there were more individuals receiving pension benefits—33,907 claimants in 2006—than workers in the city—28,701.[10] The authors recommended three steps towards addressing the problem of high costs in pensions: improved data collection, expanded transparency initiatives, and reductions to the city's overall budget.[10]
Salary schedules can be published as ranges, not as specific compensation figures, and may leave out compensation received through health and retirement benefits, as well as benefits such as commuter allowances and cell phone reimbursements. This project aimed to close the gap and provide a more accurate picture of public employee salaries for the sake of public education and transparency.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Are city employees' salaries public information or are they protected for personal privacy?—Texas Center for Community Journalism
- ↑ WFAA, Texas Troopers Seek Bigger Paychecks, July 14, 2010
- ↑ WFAA, Texas Troopers Seek Bigger Paychecks, July 14, 2010
- ↑ WFAA, Texas Troopers Seek Bigger Paychecks, July 14, 2010
- ↑ Texas Department of Public Safety, FOIA Request Response, Sept. 8, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Texas Department of Public Safety, FOIA Request Response, Sept. 8, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Texas Department of Public Safety, FOIA Request Response, Sept. 8, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Texas Department of Public Safety, FOIA Request Response, Sept. 8, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Texas Department of Public Safety, FOIA Request Response, Sept. 8, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 '’Philadelphia’s Quiet Crisis: The Rising Cost of Employee Benefits, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, January 23, 2008
