KAUKAUNA, Wis. (NBC 26) — The number of police officers in Wisconsin is dwindling.
"Action is needed now," State Rep. Jim Steineke (R) said. "This isn't a problem that we can afford to wait on."
That's why on Tuesday, Republican state lawmakers proposed a set of bills aimed at recruiting and retaining law enforcement.
The list is highlighted by a proposed law that would provide $5,000 to newly-hired officers. Police would receive an additional $1,000 per year of experience if they relocate from out of state.
Steineke says he expects the proposal to pass through the legislature, before it heads to what he calls a 'roadblock,' Democratic Governor Tony Evers' desk.
"I certainly hope on an issue that is as critical as this that he'll see how important it is and utilize those federal funds for this issue," Steineke said.
The bills include a $25 million allocation of federal funds.
"When I started over 25 years ago, I was chosen out of over 150 applicants," Menasha Chief of Police Tim Styka said. "The City of Menasha has now grown 20 percent and I actually have less officers on the road today than what we did when I started."
According to the Department of Justice, there are under 13,600 officers in Wisconsin, the lowest number in over a decade.
"Sadly, good people have left this profession for many different reasons," Appleton Chief of Police Todd Thomas said. "Some have left because of their perception that they're not being supported by their communities, which we all know is not true."
The proposed bills would use Covid relief funds. When those run out, State Rep. Kristina Shelton (D) says the laws would have to be revisited in the future if they're passed.
"Anything that is tied to ARPA funding should be a significant red flag as a political ploy that likely will go nowhere," she said.
Shelton says Governor Evers' latest budget proposal would have added more unrestricted local funding.
"We have significant money right now that the state is sitting on that would provide sustainable funding moving forward," she said. "I would love to consider spending on community safety. So let's start there with something that we can actually all agree on."
Another bill provides $1 million to the Department of Justice and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to create a marketing campaign called the 'Pro-Cop Wisconsin Campaign.'
"There are some agencies — Green Bay, Fond du Lac — that are down multiples," Styka said. "And it's not uncommon for people to be down 10, 15, 20 percent of what their sworn capacity is."
Democratic lawmakers are responding to the Republican plan.
"It's a political ploy to drive a narrative that is disingenuous to constituents to tell people that they want to invest in police departments and community safety and community policing when their behavior has told me the opposite of that," Shelton said.
Here is a full list of the proposed bills:
- LRB 5525: Provide $5,000 signing bonuses to new officers in Wisconsin. Officers that relocate from out-of-state would receive an additional $1,000 per year of experience up to $10,000. Also require $1,000 bonuses to officers matched by employing agencies for a total $2,000 bonus.
- LRB 5504: Provide a total $1M to DOJ and WEDC to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies on a marketing campaign titled "Pro-Cop Wisconsin Campaign" to recruit and retain officer both in state and from communities outside the state that have sought to reduce funding for law enforcement.
- LRB 5351: Reimburse law enforcement academy costs for all officers, not just those sponsored by an agency. Ensure this reimbursement is sufficient to cover the entire cost. Double state reimbursement for annual re-certification costs.
- LRB 5505: Require two technical colleges to offer a part-time academy program. Provide a total $1M to accomplish this.
- LRB 5421: Create a matching grant program for small agencies to provide equipment and fulfill pre-employment testing for part-time officers.
- LRB 5417: Provide free fishing and deer hunting licenses to law enforcement officers and waive state park camping and admission fees on Memorial Day weekend.
- LRB 5464: Assembly Joint Resolution honoring law enforcement officers and naming May 2022 Law Enforcement Appreciation Month.
- (In drafting): Require DPI to create a model curriculum for pupils on how to interact with law enforcement.
