Across the state, we’ve been hearing from law enforcement agencies that are struggling with staff.
Law Enforcement officers are leaving the force in far higher numbers than they are applying to join the force and it’s hitting a critical stage for their ability to provide for safe communities.
- In 2021 alone, The Star Tribune reported Minnesota saw 32 Police Chiefs retire.
- The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board Job board shows openings for licensed peace officers in at least 65 agencies. Minneapolis and St. Paul have nearly 300 open positions to fill as of January 2022.
This isn’t an accident. These losses are a direct result of the ‘Defund the Police’ and anti-police rhetoric, that has demonized police officers and left them personally demoralized and their agencies diminished in size and standing. We couldn’t disagree more with such rhetoric.
That’s why we are proposing $65 million to Create Opportunities in Public Safety (C.O.P.S.).
The C.O.P.S. Program focus on recruitment to address the peace officer shortage affecting the entire state. The six different bills help young people get their degree in law enforcement, provide opportunities for nontraditional entrants into policing, and fund a marketing campaign as well as continuing education to highlight the honorable profession and long-term benefits of a career in law enforcement.