(The Center Square) – A bipartisan bill addressing staffing shortages in Wisconsin’s small and rural police agencies is under consideration in the state legislature.
Police academy training in Wisconsin can cost an average of $5,000 or more, and the cost increases grow once six months of on-the-job training and labor costs are factored in.
The grant program established would aim to cover the cost for small police departments that couldn’t provide for the training out of pocket like larger departments, according to a press statement by Rep. Clinton Anderson, D-Beloit, the bill’s co-author.
“Smaller and rural law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin often struggle to maintain adequate staffing levels,” Anderson said. “This bipartisan bill provides meaningful support by helping agencies afford officers’ salaries during training.”
Anderson said the bill is a smart, targeted investment in public safety and in the future of small police departments across Wisconsin.
According to a 2024 survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 81% of agencies in Midwestern states reported having more trouble recruiting new officers in the past five years compared to agencies in the Southern and Western United States.
“Smaller agencies (72%) were also slightly more likely to report difficulties with their recruitment efforts, compared to midsize (69%) and large (63%) agencies,” the survey found.
The survey noted one respondent who described how recruiting had “starkly” changed over the past decade.
“In this day and age, we have to go and find good candidates, whereas 10 years ago, candidates would be constantly calling and inquiring about job openings,” the respondent said.
Ryan Windorff, president of the Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police, expressed strong support for the bill, saynig it would tackle the staffing shortages head-on.
“The vast majority of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin are small, employing 25 or fewer officers, and these departments often face significant recruitment struggles and budget constraints,” Windorff told The Center Square. “Unlike larger departments that can offer paid training and other competitive benefits, smaller agencies struggle to attract and retain qualified officers, exacerbating staffing shortages.”
Windorff said the bill would level the playing field, enabling smaller agencies to recruit and retain talent in the face of retirements and high vacancy rates.
