University budget cuts have cut in half the job of the DPS Drug Task Force officer, but officials said it will not affect the department’s investigative capabilities.

John Tinker, investigative coordinator of the DPS Drug Task Force, has been on staff full-time for eight years. Along with the cut in hours, Tinker is only being paid half of his salary.

Tinker said the cut in his hours and salary came when the university cut the budget for the Drug Task Force.

His position switched to part-time July 1. Tinker said he is fine with the cutback.

“I was planning on retiring all together,” Tinker said. “It was a position that they were probably going to eliminate had I not agreed to work part-time still.”

He said he does not think the cutback in funding will have much of an effect on the task force.

“We still have investigators that will be out on the field,” Tinker said. “I won’t be in the field much, but that will allow me more time to do the administrative work that needs to be done.”

If something major does come up, Tinker said he will still be available to help the Drug Task Force on the street.

“I’m easy to get ahold of,” he said.

Jerry Stewart, interim director of DPS, said he thinks Tinker is still a valuable asset to the department.

“He works exclusively with the Central Iowa Drug Task Force,” Stewart said. “We will be able to continue to aggressively investigate.”

Stewart said the investigations probably will remain the same, due in large part to other agencies in the area.

“We have a good relationship with other agencies, including both the Story County and Boone County sheriff’s departments and county attorney’s offices and the Ames Police Department,” he said.

Stewart said the department also has an officer that is dedicated entirely to the investigation of drugs.