New Releases Law Enforcement and Firefighters Oppose 423 Initiative 423 would threaten public safety by cutting essential funds Lincoln – Initiative 423 would threaten public safety by cutting essential funding for vital services, said firefighters and law enforcement officers from across the state during a Monday press conference at the state capitol. Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner, representing the Nebraska Sheriffs Association, said that since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, federal funding for drug task forces had been dramatically cut to fund the war on terrorism. Last year, the Nebraska Legislature recognized the importance of local drug task forces, Wagner said, especially in rural Nebraska, and restored funding that had been cut at the federal level. "Had Initiative 423 been in place, the Legislature would not have been able to provide the tools the Nebraska law enforcement officers need to fight the meth epidemic across this state," Wagner said. Jim Egr, representing the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighter's Association, said the hundreds of volunteer firefighters who responded to the massive wildfires in north central and northwestern Nebraska this past summer were critically important in helping to bring those fires under control. "Without funds for proper training, these dedicated volunteers cannot be as effective in providing protection for their communities. Initiative 423 threatens that funding on the state and local levels," Egr said. Mark Majors, Vice President of the Lincoln Firefighters Association, representing the Nebraska Professional Firefighters Association said that firefighters take an oath to protect life and property. "To be able to fulfill that oath, we need the proper equipment, training and people," he said, adding that, as previously stated, the initiative is a proven failure in Colorado where they reduced their firefighting personnel by one-third. "When Coloradans dialed 9-11, firefighters in Colorado were there to serve the citizens, but their ability to respond was harmed. We urge you to vote no on Initiative 423." Norfolk Fire Chief Shane Weidner, representing the Nebraska Municipal Fire Chiefs' Association, said that Initiative 423 would increase property taxes and severely cut services, such as fire protection, emergency medical response and hazardous material response, including firefighters' response to meth labs. "For your safety and for our safety, I strongly urge you to vote against Initiative 423." Jim Peschong, representing the Police Officers Association of Nebraska, said Initiative 423 would force deep cuts in the budgets of police departments across Nebraska at a time when more, not fewer police officers are needed. Last year the Legislature continued vital funding for the Law Enforcement Improvement Fund so that police departments would not have to pay an additional $4,000 for training each police officer. "Initiative 423 will harm law enforcement efforts against growing dangers such as meth and sex offenders," Peschong said. Nebraska State Patrol Investigator Scott Black said the Nebraska State Troopers Association is very concerned with the impact Initiative 423 could have on their ability to protect Nebraska citizens. "Over the last two decades the Nebraska State Patrol's authorized strength has increased only by a handful. In that same time period the number of duties assigned to the State Patrol has nearly doubled," Black said. "If Initiative 423 is placed in our Constitution, it will make it nearly impossible to address the staffing issue or to provide adequate resources for troopers to fulfill their duty to protect and serve Nebraska citizens." Norfolk Police Chief Bill Mizner said Initiative 423 would jeopardize funds for community based mental health reform. "As a member of the Behavioral Health Oversight Commission, it is obvious that mental health reform is already severely under-funded. Initiative 423 would make this situation even worse. Whether these services are available has a direct effect on law enforcement whose calls include those from the distressed families of individuals in a mental health crisis," he said "Initiative 423 would tie lawmakers' hands in their efforts to respond to mental health issues. Please vote against Initiative 423." These organizations representing law enforcement and firefighters join over 70 statewide organizations opposing Initiative 423.