WHEREAS, for some years now, uniformed law enforcement officers in marked police vehicles have been used at construction highway sites; and

WHEREAS, the use of the aforementioned police officers and vehicles is alleged to create safer working conditions; and

WHEREAS, the use of such officers on highway construction sites has oft times caused friction between neighboring law enforcement agencies; and

WHEREAS, the use of such police officers and their vehicles has also caused friction between state police agencies and local police agencies; and

WHEREAS, the use of police officers and police vehicles at highway construction sites costs millions of dollars per year; and

WHEREAS, the funds diverted to compensate police officers and their agencies for presence at highway construction sites could more likely build more roads, and/or purchase equipment that would provide real safety for highway construction workers; and

WHEREAS, financial opportunities provided by assignment to highway construction work sites often affects the productivity, dedication, and focus of those officers assigned from their true mission as police officers; and

WHEREAS, the use of such officers is of questionable utility and efficacy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the State and Provincial Division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police respectfully urges the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a valid study to determine the efficacy and true utility of uniformed police officers and marked police vehicles at highway construction sites.