Republicans in the Minnesota State Senate are hopeful a $65 million proposal introduced Thursday morning will lead more people to the law enforcement profession across the state.
Senate Republicans call the proposal the "C.O.P.S. Program" which stands for "Creating Opportunities in Public Safety." C.O.P.S. is made-up for six different bills addressing scholarships, tuition, bonuses, and areas of help for nontraditional entrants into policing.
"We need public officials at all levels and all parties to join our efforts in taking public safety very seriously," said Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller (R-Winona. "Particularly prosecutors in holding violent criminals accountable."
Included in the proposal is $1 million for for a Department of Public Safety advertising campaign that Senator Karin Housley (R- Stillwater) believes is need in order to reverse the messaging about policing.
"We've been hearing from law enforcement across the state that they need help," Housley said. "They are under attack from harmful rhetoric from liberals who would rather defund our police and our police departments completely."
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$20 million of the $65 million would go towards the Workforce Scholarship Program aimed at increasing enrollment in associate degree programs in law enforcement.
"This will help offer scholarships to students who attend Minnesota-state system schools to make it easier for students to go to our incredible Minnesota State," Senator John Jasinski (R- Faribault) said.
Republicans are also proposing $20 million to fund bonuses of up to $10,000 for newly hired peace officers across Minnesota. Those bonuses would be awarded after an officer has served a year with the hiring agency.
"Money is not enough," added Miller. "Public officials at all levels and parties need to start showing law enforcement the respect and appreciation that they deserve for the work they do and the risks they take in keeping people and communities safe."
Senate Republicans plan to introduce more policing-related legislation to address criminal prosecution and police retention in the legislative session.