Madison, WI – Today Representatives Bob Donovan and Clinton Anderson, along with Senators Jesse James and Brad Pfaff, introduced LRB-2712. The bill creates a pilot program providing grants to small law enforcement agencies that would cover labor costs and unreimbursed training costs associated with sending officers to the academy and 6 months of on the job training. This bipartisan effort would address staffing shortages affecting small police departments statewide. This bill has the backing of the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Badger State Sheriffs’ Association, the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association., and the Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police.
“Smaller and rural law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin often struggle to maintain adequate staffing levels,” said Rep. Anderson. “This bipartisan bill provides meaningful support by helping agencies afford officers’ salaries during training. It’s a smart, targeted investment in public safety and in the future of small departments across our state.”
