Attorney General Josh Stein announces plan to address law enforcement officer shortages
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein today proposed several strategies to recruit and retain law enforcement officers. North Carolina is experiencing a shortage of officers in many communities.
“Law enforcement officers keep our families and communities safe, and we are less safe when there are widespread vacancies,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I am proud to join lawmakers and officers to take action to recruit and retain public-spirited people in law enforcement.”
“Finding the right men and women to keep our state safe is an ongoing challenge, and I’m happy to work alongside Josh Stein to find solutions,” said Sherriff Bobby Kimbrough. “We are safer and better together. So let’s stand together for those who stand for all of us.”
“To address staffing deficiencies of law enforcement agencies across the state, we need measures to attract and retain qualified officers, such as loan repayment assistance, salary and retirement benefits, and mental health services,” said Rep. John Faircloth. “Improving working conditions as well as providing adequate training and resources are also crucial to officer retention. By investing in law enforcement officers, we can ensure that North Carolina communities are safe and secure.”
“We are at a crossroads in law enforcement where ensuring for public safety is increasingly at risk,” said Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand. “Efforts that give leaders the tools to reinforce policing as an honorable and desirable profession are critical in North Carolina.”
Attorney General Stein’s proposals, which include hiring bonuses, a public awareness recruitment campaign, education fellowships, and a fix to allow retired officers to return to the job can be found here.
Attorney General Stein remains focused on improving public safety. Just last week, he opened new space at the State Crime Lab and reinforced his commitment to fighting the scourge of fentanyl. More information on that effort is available here.
Are you tired of being bombarded by paywalls and pop-up ads when trying to read the news? Do you believe that access to reliable political news should be free and accessible to everyone? Then we urge you to support NC Political News, a weekly electronic political news outlet.
NC Political News is committed to providing high-quality, unbiased political reporting with columnists from all political sides. Unlike other news outlets, NC Political News is free to read and supported by businesses who purchase ad space on our website and in our newsletter, which goes out Monday through Friday at 7:00 am. This means that readers like you can access the news without being asked to pay a cent or dealing with frustrating advertisements.
However, to continue providing this valuable service, NC Political News needs your support. If you believe in the importance of accessible, free news, we urge you to click the image below. Any amount of support is appreciated.
Together, we can keep the news free and help ensure our state stays informed and connected.
