State Police outline recruitment, lab and aviation priorities as DLS flags forensic delays and vacancy trends

The Department of State Police presented its fiscal 2027 allowance and operational status on Feb. 27, and agency leaders answered questions about hiring, forensic lab work and aviation funding.

DLS highlighted several trends: Maryland's overall part-one crime rate edged down between 2023 and 2024, traffic fatalities were estimated to decline in 2025, and motor-vehicle thefts showed volatility. The analyst noted that the State Police forensic sciences division's controlled dangerous substances (CDS) caseload has fluctuated, with average turnaround times near 55 days and completion rates that fell in 2024 and estimated 2025 data. DLS asked the department for calendar-year 2025 CDS completion rates and goals for turnaround times.

DLS also reviewed aviation command financing and a contingent budget mechanism that would allow special funds to cover larger shares of aviation costs through an extension in BERPA-style authorization. The department said it is balancing general and special funds for aviation operations and flagged planned fleet-replacement savings in vehicle spending.

On hiring and retention, DLS noted a persistent vacancy issue and called for continued quarterly personnel reporting. Agency reports indicated a roughly 11.8% overall vacancy rate in 2025 and variation by sworn versus civilian classifications; the department plans to implement validated entry-level assessments, institute reform measures outlined in a previously negotiated consent decree and use recruitment incentives.

Secretary Michael Jackson reviewed statewide enforcement priorities and said the agency will expand community engagement, strengthen recruitment campaigns and continue cross-jurisdictional operations to respond to high-profile public-safety issues such as vehicle rallies and crime-suppression deployments in Baltimore City.

Lawmakers asked the department to provide updated forensic-labor metrics, a hiring plan with recruitment timelines and an update on the gun-records database schedule; agency officials agreed to provide the requested detail to support budget oversight.