NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, today filed legislation to enhance public safety by boosting recruitment efforts across Tennessee.
House Bill 1445 will establish a Law Enforcement Officer Recruitment Fund to provide grants to city, municipal and county law enforcement agencies experiencing staffing shortages.
“Ensuring law enforcement agencies have the resources they need is instrumental in addressing staffing and retention challenges,” said Gillespie. “This proactive legislation will provide additional funding to help police departments and sheriffs’ offices attract qualified candidates to fill critical roles across the Volunteer State. Investing in recruitment will lead to stronger and safer communities for all Tennesseans.”
Funding will be administered to eligible law enforcement agencies to promote officer recruitment. Departments must have vacancies in 10% or more of the agency’s funded law enforcement officer positions to qualify.
The fund will be supported by state appropriations and public or private contributions. The state treasurer will invest fund assets and credit interest to enhance the program’s effectiveness.
It will be administered by the Office of Criminal Justice Programs within the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration.
Law enforcement agencies in Tennessee and across the United States have experienced officer shortages in recent years. Memphis reached a 20-year low in police staffing earlier this year, according to the Memphis Police Association.
The proposed legislation seeks to build on Republican efforts to support and empower law enforcement in Tennessee. The Volunteer State ranks as the 8th best state in the nation to be a police officer, according to WalletHub. Lawmakers have approved several measures in recent years to back the blue, including enhancing the penalty for assaulting law enforcement officers.
President Donald Trump recently established the Memphis Safe Task Force at the request of Gov. Bill Lee to combat street and violent crime in the city by sending additional federal resources.
Lawmakers will reconvene for the second session of the 114th General Assembly on Jan. 13.
State Rep. John Gillespie represents District 97 in the Tennessee House of Representatives, which includes part of Shelby County.