Newsmakers: GOP Law Enforcement Package
On January 24, 2022, WisconsinEye Host Lisa Pugh talked to West Allis Chief of Police and Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association President Patrick Mitchell and Representative Alex Dallman (R-Green Lake) about recently introduced GOP law enforcement bills. Republican legislators are pushing for an investment in local law enforcement, citing increasing crime rates and challenges with recruitment and retention, leading to the lowest number of officers statewide in a decade. Their $25 million package of bills announced earlier this month includes bonuses for officers, grants to small departments that hire part-time officers, a statewide marketing campaign, reimbursement for training costs and more. Under the plan all initiatives would be funded using federal COVID recovery dollars that have already been allocated by Governor Evers. The package comes with criticism from Democratic colleagues who say the Republican legislature should be making long-term investments in local communities and have neglected to do so in the recent past.
