Mar 28 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently co-sponsored the Recruit and Retain Act, bipartisan legislation that would support law enforcement agencies by helping to address workforce challenges and bolster recruitment. 

“Police departments across the country are understaffed and deserve every resource to increases officer recruitment,” said Senator Tillis. “This bill will provide necessary assistance for our brave men and women in law enforcement and will improve community safety across North Carolina and the country.”

Among its provisions, the Recruit and Retain Act would increase officer recruitment opportunities through the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants so departments can cover hiring costs and apply to the program more easily. The bill would help law enforcement agencies across the country that are both understaffed and struggling to attract new applicants.

Additionally, the bill would create a new program to encourage partnerships between local schools and police departments to foster a stronger hiring pipeline for law enforcement careers. 

Background

The bill contains five key initiatives:

Supporting Officer Onboarding

  1. Expands the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS grants to reduce the financial costs of hiring new law enforcement officers (ex: background checks, psychological evaluations, etc.).

Reducing Administrative Burdens

  1. Allows up to 2% of grant funding to cover the administrative burden of implementing COPS grants. Many law enforcement agencies have noted this would offset the paperwork burden associated with COPS grants.  

Authorizing New Pipeline Recruitment Program 

  1. Authorizes the Pipeline Partnership Program within COPS to encourage collaboration between agencies and local elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education for students interested in future careers in law enforcement. Qualifying partnership activities would include: dedicated programming for students, work-based learning opportunities, project-based learning, mentoring, community liaisons, career or jobs fairs, work site visits, job shadowing, and skills-based internships.

Providing Better Grant Guidance for Understaffed Agencies

  1. Creates new guidance for COPS hiring grants to clarify the lack of consistent procedures for understaffed agencies. This will ensure more eligible police departments are able to access COPS grants.

Shining a Light on Recruitment and Retention Challenges

  1. Directs a comprehensive study to illuminate recruitment and retention challenges law enforcement agencies face nationwide, and document how these trends are impacting public safety.

The Recruit and Retain Act has received national endorsements from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs Association, National Association of Police Organizations, and National Sheriffs Association.

Click here to read the text of the bill.

 

###