With communities across the state having difficulty recruiting and retaining police officers, legislation was heard this week that would provide a one-time bonus to qualifying officers. The legislation would give $1500 to officers in recognition of their service.
In committee discussion, Senate DFLers expressed the need for adding guard rails to these bonuses to prevent them from going to officers who have faced disciplinary issues. While retaining and recruiting high-quality officers for our communities is one piece of public safety, other steps must be taken.
Senate DFLers also know that our police officers have been on the front lines of COVID-19 during the two years of this pandemic, like many other essential frontline workers. In fact, COVID-19 was the number one on the job cause of death for law enforcement in 2021 nationally.
Members of law enforcement as well as those working in health care, nursing homes, retail, maintenance, childcare, and more – 667,000 Minnesotans in total – have been on the front lines, allowing us to stay safe while having the services that we need.
Their sacrifice was recognized by the House this week with passage of a bill that would give a $1,500 as a one-time bonus for the work of these 667,000 Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate DFLers are committed to enacting bonuses for all of the workers who put their health and safety on the line during the ongoing pandemic. (SF 3328, SF 2650)
