ST. PAUL — Minnesota Senate Republicans unveiled a $65 million public safety package on Thursday called “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 degrees 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.

“Improving public safety is of critical importance,” said Sen. Gary Dahms, R-Redwood Falls. “Our peace officers do an outstanding job serving our communities. Unfortunately, many departments are facing staffing issues so it’s crucial we make investments in recruiting new officers to law enforcement careers. Being a peace officer is a noble profession and anyone who wants to meet the qualifications to serve should be given that opportunity.” 

Sen. Bill Weber, R-Luverne, also released a statement on the package of public safety bill.

“Minnesota needs more qualified police officers,” Weber said. “It should be expected that we are recruiting the best and the brightest. Unfortunately, we’re not getting that at the moment. People are staying away from the profession, and hiring is being outpaced by retirements or exits. We need to turn this around, and one way to do this is to use incentives and recruitment programs that show these men and women that we respect what they do and will we there be supporting them on their journey to become a LEO (law enforcement officer).”

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.

Back in session

Both Dahms and House Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, released statements on the opening of the 2022 Legislative session.

“It feels good to be back in session so we can get to work helping the people of Minnesota,” Dahms said. “Addressing inflation, rising crime, and COVID-19 will all be major issues on the agenda. I am hopeful this year that we can finally eliminate the unfair tax on social security and renew our successful reinsurance program to keep health care costs low for families and small businesses.” 

Swedzinski said tax relief and improved public safety are at the forefront this year.

“The best thing about the session starting is we finally can get to work turning the state’s $7.7 billion surplus into historic tax relief and cracking down on violent crime that is soaring in our state,” Swedzinski said.

“Those should be our main focuses this session and deserve our full attention. Our state has more than enough revenue, but people and businesses have been suffering under inflation and unilateral restrictions the governor placed upon them. Minnesotans deserve tax relief and now’s our chance to show them we have their backs. We also need to improve public safety in our state this session in response to the rampant violent crime we are experiencing.”