(WASHINGTON, DC.) — Following meetings with community leaders and law enforcement professionals across the state of Georgia, Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing a bipartisan bill with the aim of curbing staff shortages in police departments across the nation. He’s joined by cosponsor Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
“I’m hearing from police chiefs and sheriffs across the state that they’re having a lot of trouble hiring,” Sen. Ossoff told WSB’s Bill Caiaccio. “It puts community safety at risk and it puts tremendous stress on the officers.”
WSB-TV reported last year on the difficulties that metro Atlanta law enforcement agencies have had in filling vacancies. WALB Albany reported that the Albany Police Department, for example, is currently 30-40% understaffed.
While Georgia communities may have brought the issue to Sen. Ossoff’s desk, it’s a problem that the entire nation is facing. The Filling Public Safety Vacancies Act would provide funding to help law enforcement agencies reduce staffing shortages and effectively protect communities.
The bill would also establish vetting requirements for officers hired with the supplemental funding, ensuring that background checks and mental health evaluations are performed. Currently, federal law has no requirements on agencies to perform checks on new recruits through the Federal COPS Hiring Program.