On Thursday, Republicans in the Minnesota Senate laid out a proposal addressing the shortage of police officers in the state.

It is no surprise that the ranks of police officers have been shrinking since the murder of George Floyd, the resulting riots and the calls for defunding the police. Officers in Minneapolis have been leaving the force, some claiming PTSD, some simply having served their time and seeing no reason to stay on. In the meantime, the supply of new recruits to the police academy has dwindled as well.

The Senate Republicans are proposing to encourage more young people to become police officers, with a $65 million recruitment plan that would give $10,000 signing bonuses, financial scholarships and financial aid to those entering law enforcement.

Members of the DFL, who control the House, are saying they will present their own police recruitment plan. We hope there will be similarities between the plans, and a willingness on both sides to work together to create a workable plan.

Well-trained, capable and responsible police officers are needed to reverse this trend toward mistrust of police and the rise of violent crimes we have been experiencing in the state. More than ever we need full rosters of police, and the state could help fill them with a good package of incentives.