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Saint Cloud Helps Craft Police Hiring Legislation

Saint Cloud, MN, USA / KNSI
Ashley Menzemer
Apr 4, 2022 | 2:07 PM

(KNSI) — Two bills will be filed soon in the Minnesota House of Representatives aiming to help law enforcement agencies find and retain staff. Saint Cloud municipal officials and the police department put forward the proposals to a bipartisan group of lawmakers. Democrat Dan Wolgamott and Republican Tama Theis joined mayor Dave Kleis and Police Chief Blair Anderson at department headquarters Monday morning to discuss the issue.

There are two components to the legislation, financial incentives and accountability measures. Kleis says Saint Cloud has led the way on the latter aspect, having already adopted a community policing agreement, body cams, and other protocols.

“We reached out with a solution to this problem. In law enforcement in the State of Minnesota, St. Cloud has led in community engagement, St. Cloud has led in community policing. We want to lead in ways to retain and recruit.”

Anderson says his department has seen an 82% decline in job applications over the past decade. He refers to the current situation as “critical mass” and warns a lot of the programs put in place by the department to reach residents are threatened.

“We don’t want to cut those things that have helped us build such rapport with our community, but when you’re at critical mass those are the things that go away first.”

Wolgamott and Theis will be shepherding the legislation through the house. They both highlighted the critical nature of finding a solution now.

Wolgamott said, “I’m here today with a sense of urgency, because as the mayor said, our law enforcement entities, both here in Saint Cloud but throughout the entire state, are facing a dire workforce shortage. That is having a direct impact on our ability to maintain public safety.”

One bill will create a two year state income tax holiday for law enforcement personnel. The other allocates $35 million in funds to departments losing staff, allowing them to give bonuses between $5,000 and $10,000 to new hires, or those staying put.

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