Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the completion of a report examining law enforcement recruitment and retention challenges across the state.
The report was developed by a task force authorized through Senate Resolution 94. The legislation was authored by Pennsylvania Sen. Wayne Langerholc, and the task force was chaired by Sunday.
Over the past year, Sunday met with law enforcement leaders and personnel across Pennsylvania to discuss staffing challenges, working conditions and factors affecting police officers, corrections officers and prosecutors.
The 122-page report was delivered to the General Assembly this week. It includes 24 recommendations for lawmakers to consider.
The recommendations include ensuring meaningful salary and benefits, improving working conditions, offering retention benefits such as tuition assistance for children of law enforcement officers, addressing pay disparities between agencies and studying prosecutor salaries, which can vary by county.
The report also notes that inadequate pay in related agencies, including those handling substance use disorder and mental health treatment, can affect the criminal justice system and make law enforcement work more difficult.
Langerholc said the goal of the task force was to recruit and retain more law enforcement personnel. Sen. Joe Picozzi said staffing shortages are making public safety work more difficult and said investment is needed to attract and retain public safety professionals.
Attorney General Sunday commended the task force and legislative leaders for their work and said he looks forward to future collaboration.
Read the report here
