Today Senate Republicans rolled out a $65 million C.O.P.S. Program, which stands for “Creating Opportunities in Public Safety.” The proposals 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. Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) who is Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate and Vice-Chair of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee released the following statement:

“I hear stories from our law enforcement that staffing issues pose a serious threat to public safety,” Johnson said. “The demonization of police offers from the ‘Defund the Police’ movement and others have led to a growing number of officers leaving the force. Additionally, prospective students are choosing other careers because of harmful anti-police rhetoric. Our package is targeted to help the next generation of those who will protect and serve to get into this honorable career.” 

Across the nation, law enforcement positions are opening up faster than they can be replaced by retirement or resignation. 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 last month. 

The Package Includes

·     $1 million for the Department of Public Safety to develop and conduct an advertising campaign to elevate the law enforcement profession

·     $1.5 million for the award-winning Pathways to Policing program

·     $20 million to the Workforce Scholarship Program aimed at increasing enrollment in associate degree programs in law enforcement

·     $20 million for grants to students across Minnesota who are pursuing degrees in law enforcement at an accredited institution. The grant would be $1,500 per year for up to 2 years for eligible recipients. 

·     2.5 million in tuition reimbursements for recently licensed peace officers and those currently in the pipeline to become officers

·     $20 million towards bonuses of up to $10,000 for newly hired peace officers across Minnesota.

To hear the full C.O.P.S package, you can watch the press conference on the Senate Media Services YouTube page.