Bipartisan bill aims to reduce police staffing shortages
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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers on Capitol Hill unveiled a bipartisan bill Thursday aimed at reducing police officer shortages nationwide.
Law enforcement leaders came to D.C. Thursday to share how a lack of officers has affected their cities.
San Diego Police Sgt. Jared Wilson has been an officer more than 20 years.
“Staffing is the lowest level that I have ever experienced,” Wilson, who is also President of the San Diego Police Officers Association, said.
He’s seen how officer shortages have hurt public safety.
“A domestic violence-in-progress call or burglary-in-progress call takes over 30 minutes across our city for response on average,” Wilson said.
Wilson says a combination of officer retirements, resignations and a lack of qualified candidates has forced departments to make tough decisions.
“Like in Tehama County, where they ended daytime patrols due to a lack of sworn staffing,” Wilson said.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are paying attention.
“It has become harder to get the cops we need on the beat,” Rep. Salud Carbajal (R- Calif.) said.
California Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal and Nebraska Republican Congressman Don Bacon’s new bill aims to fix that.
“This is meant to help try to deal with that problem, to get our recruitment back up, our retention back up, because we need it,” Bacon said.
The “Filling Public Safety Vacancies Act” would double the funding for a federal program, adding an additional $162 million to help local law enforcement hire more officers.
It also requires officers hired through that program to undergo background checks and mental health screenings.
“It is essential that the right people be selected and hired to fill these important positions,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.
The bill is one of several being brought in Congress this National Police Week aimed at supporting law enforcement.
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