The Pathways to Policing initiative seeks to make the journey to becoming an officer more achievable in Minnesota.
Officer Cameron Barukzoy is a product of the program and says the benefits made becoming an officer possible for him.
" It was a struggle," says Barukzoy, " it was a balance of going to school, you know the pathways program does offer, you get paid while you go through the program which was a huge help financially for our family"
Lieutenant Governor Flanagan says the success of the program in St. Louis Park is creating opportunities for other cities to start their own programs.
"St. Louis Park was a founding department in Pathways in Policing," says Flanagan. "Which I think is really exciting, and continues to be really a model in executing this program successfully."
St. Louis Park Deputy Police Chief Siar Nadem says the program offers candidates a full-time wage and benefits as they prepare to move into a policing position, and that its been game-changing for their candidates.
"When you look at Cameron's situation he was working a full time position and at the same time supporting a family," says Nadem. "How is he going to be able to go to school and complete his post license? That's almost impossible. He would have to work overnights and show up at school and at the same time be a father and husband. So our candidates can just focus on school."
Another $73,000 was invested from the Department of Public Safety this year to expand the program in Minneapolis where there is a significant shortage of police officers.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara told WCCO Radio last month that the department’s on track to make more hires this year than compared to last year, but their situation is still "dire".
“This year we’re going to have even more people eligible to retire that are coming up on age because of the Clinton hiring grants," O'Hara says. "I don’t think we’ll keep pace with attrition this year either. So we will continue to get smaller even when we’re hiring more people. I can’t overstate how serious this situation is.”