Wisconsin Republicans introduce police recruiting bills amid staffing challenges
FRANKLIN, Wis. - Republican members of the Wisconsin Legislature unveiled a package of bills Tuesday intended to help recruit new police officers.
The total number of officers in Wisconsin, more than 13,500, is the lowest number in more than a decade.
Police chiefs who spoke at the Tuesday afternoon media conference in Franklin said they are having a hard time filling job openings.
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"We stand here today that action is needed now," said Sturtevant Police Chief Sean Marschke. "Simply stated: Communities throughout Wisconsin may experience a greater risk of crime, if something is not done now.
"Next year will be my 30th year with the village, and when I applied for the position of police officer, I was one of 150 applicants. We have two open spots right now and we have 12 applications."
Wisconsin Republicans said they hope to pass bills this month to help recruit and keep officers. They want Gov. Tony Evers to use $25 million of federal COVID-19 relief money to fund the effort.
One idea is a $1 million marketing plan advertising this message: "Pro-Cop Wisconsin." It could be used within Wisconsin and also to attract current officers in other states where places have "sought to reduce support for law enforcement. "
Republicans want to offer a state $1,000 bonus matched by a local $1,000 bonus to keep officers on the job, and to offer recruitment bonuses for new officers. It would call for more state reimbursement for police academies. Another $1 million would go to the state's technical college system to set up at least two police academies for part-time students.
Another proposed bill would protect no-knock warrants. In November, Milwaukee's Fire and Police Commission voted to ban such warrants, where officers do not have to announce themselves or knock on the door. The bill would also require Milwaukee spend a certain percentage of its $395 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars on its police department.
Another bill would require teaching Wisconsin students in grades 5 through 12 how to interact with police with "mutual cooperation and respect."
Republicans say these proposals will send the message that they support the police, amid growing staffing challenges and growing violent crime in some Wisconsin cities.
"We wanted to be here very publicly, very emphatically saying we appreciate the job that mean and women in law enforcement do," said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester).
"We also see that the same time we are seeing rising crime rates, we have the lowest number of police officers in a decade," added Vos.
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Milwaukee set a record in 2021 for the total number of homicides.
"Our members are overworked. They're burned out," said Andy Wegner with the Milwaukee Police Association. "On top of that, morale is at its all-time low. Day after day, officers are remaining professional, have answered to show up during the pandemic, and have sacrificed holidays, children's birthdays and numerous family events. They have done this because each of them has a calling and a duty to put themselves last and their communities first. In return, though, they do not feel supported."
Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)
But Milwaukee city leaders say the state has underfunded the city – a point Tom Barrett repeated as he left his office as the city's mayor, when asked how the city can crack down on growing homicides.
"It’s going to involve obviously getting more funding for police officers. I think that is a huge issue," Barrett said. "One of the challenges and one of the disappointments as I leave this job is our fiscal relationship with the state of Wisconsin. Without a doubt, that has to be changed.
"I’m hoping that having a new face might enhance the chances that will improve, but that’s a real issue."
What other options are there to help Milwaukee hire more police officers? Vos answered that FOX6 question: "We have to show that we support and that we value the police."
Democrats were critical, saying Republicans have spent a decade underfunding local police and cities – and opposed Evers' proposal to send more state money to local government.
"Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled legislature rejected these proposed increases, despite a significant state fund balance," stated State Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh). "Now, Legislative Republicans are proposing using one-time COVID funds to fund local law enforcement at roughly half the amount Governor Evers proposed since he was elected in 2018, and that Republicans voted against."
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