The bill from Senate President Troy Jackson seeks to address recruitment and retention challenges in law enforcement

AUGUSTA — Today, the Maine Senate unanimously approved a bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, that would create a law enforcement stakeholder group to address recruitment and retention challenges. 

LD 2094, Resolve to require the establishment of a stakeholder group to examine and improve the recruitment, retention and wellness of law enforcement officers received strong bipartisan support from the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety earlier this year.

“Rural communities across the United States are facing a law enforcement staffing crisis, and Maine is no exception,” said President Jackson. “By bringing together a stakeholder group of law enforcement, experts and community leaders, we can chart a more sustainable path forward for law enforcement and our communities.”

This problem has been slowly building for a long time, but it has accelerated in recent years. According to the Maine Chiefs of Police Association there were 310 full-time law enforcement vacancies and 75 part-time law enforcement vacancies across the state as of Dec. 2022. Some towns have had to disband entire police departments due to the lack of staffing and resources.

LD 2094 will now go to the House for additional votes.