State police excused from furlough

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Gov. Bill Richardson on Thursday announced that state police and state dispatchers will be exempted from the five furlough days Richardson ordered for employees in executive agencies.

Richardson ordered all executive agencies to submit a furlough plan by Nov. 30, but he took early action on the New Mexico State Police Division of the Department of Public Safety.

In a news release, Richardson said he had always intended to make exceptions to the furlough plan when it came to public safety.

"I want New Mexicans to be assured that as we implement this important cost saving measure, that we will not compromise public safety or disrupt critical services," he is quoted as saying in the news release.