Vella-led Measures Aimed at Recruiting and Retaining Law Enforcement Officers Signed by Governor

ROCKFORD, Ill. – A pair of proposals passed by state Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, aimed at developing incentives to recruit and retain quality officers have been signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“As part of conversations with law enforcement officials, it’s clear that they need help with bringing in and keeping officers,” Vella said. “I’m proud to work with our law enforcement in identifying solutions to these challenges, and will continue to work with them to ensure our community is able to recruit excellent candidates.”                                                       

Vella’s House Bill 3863 creates the Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Fund to be used by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board to provide grants to law enforcement agencies for hiring and retention of law enforcement officers.

Additionally, his House Bill 1571 offers new incentives by:

• Lowering the retirement age for select Illinois State Police employees from 60 to 55 years of age,
• Tasking the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board with creating a report with recommendations to the General Assembly for establishing minimum requirements for credits that may transfer from Illinois colleges to satisfy the requirements of law enforcement and correctional intern courses, and
• Allowing retiring sheriffs, investigators, security employees and probation officers to purchase their badge and service firearm.

“If we want to address public safety comprehensively and effectively, it starts by making sure our law enforcement is supported and has the resources they need to safely do their job,” Vella said. “I appreciate Governor Pritzker’s signature on these proposals, and I look forward to continuing to do what I can to help our law enforcement and their families.”