MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A new law aimed to help police agencies keep our communities safe has just been signed. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill into law on Wednesday, June 13th. The new bill allows agencies to collect reimbursement for the cost of academy training.
Police departments across the UP are not immune to the struggle of recruiting but hope this incentive-like bill can help keep officers in the area. “Finding the right people that want to be police officers and want to serve their community has been increasingly difficult and with this law, it gives us a piece of mind that if we invest in somebody. It lets us know that they’re gonna put the time and effort into our agency,” commented Marquette Police Chief Ryan Grim.
Chief of Police Ryan Grim commented that when he was looking to become an officer there were over 30 other recruits and that in today’s job market, there’s only a handful. “20 + years ago you’d be in a room full of 35 to 40 people for one job nowadays you know as soon as we have one viable candidate were looking at him or her as a potential hire,” continued Chief Grim.
“Sponsoring recruits to the academy wasn’t something that you’d see a lot of up here in the past because we’ve had 75 people applying for a job,” said Capt. James Finkbeiner.
The newly signed house bill will allow for the agency to be reimbursed for the cost of training if the recruit stays for a period of 4 years. If the recruit decides to leave 1 year after completing the training, they owe 100% of the academy cost. The longer they stay the more incentive there will be. “If they leave after 2 years it’s 75%, 3 is 50 and then 4 is 25, and after 4 years they can leave without any financial obligation,” continued Chief Grim.
The local municipalities told WZMQ that they have needed this for a number of years. Even with a local community like Marquette that may retain more officers than other cities, the bill offers that extra incentive that local police say will help keep recruits in the area.
“Governor’s also given a lot of money to recruiting and get some of the costs to go to academies and stuff help cover by departments such as ours which helps in the bottom line which is the budget,” continued Capt. Finkbeiner.
“So the longer an officer stays with us the more that they learn the community they fall in love with it and they wanna stay here so it’ll help our retention,” continued Grim.
For more information on House Bill 4176, click here.
