IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
241479
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
230359, 241255, 241227, 241205, 241184, 241415
Sponsor
ALD. MOORE
Title
Resolution amending the City of Milwaukee’s state legislative package relating to the creation and funding of a State of Wisconsin statewide police recruitment bonus incentive program.
Analysis
This resolution amends the City of Milwaukee’s state legislative package to support the creation and funding of a State of Wisconsin statewide police recruitment bonus incentive program.
Body
Whereas, Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, the recruitment of police officers has been severely challenged nationally and locally, and as of November, 2024, the City had 1,567 sworn police officers, which is down from 1,864 in 2019; and
Whereas, Because 2023 Wisconsin Act 12’s maintenance-of-effort provisions require the City to increase its sworn strength of police officers annually and achieve a strength level of 1,725 sworn officers within 10 years, the creation of a State of Wisconsin-supported recruitment bonus would help the City meet hiring minimums and avoid a 15% shared-revenue penalty; and
Whereas, 2023 Wisconsin Act 12 also imposed police maintenance-of-effort provisions on other Wisconsin municipalities, which also would benefit from the creation of a police recruitment bonus program; and
Whereas, Through its statewide Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program, the State of Florida, as of November 2024, had issued over 6,400 bonuses each worth $5,000 to entice the recruitment of new local police officer candidates including the luring of a significant number of lateral transfers from other states; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee’s state legislative package is amended to support the creation and funding of a State of Wisconsin statewide police recruitment bonus incentive program.
Requestor
Drafter
Alex Highley
LRB180462-1
1/10/2025