MN Senate Passes $1 Million For Police Advertising Campaign

ST. PAUL, MN — The Minnesota Senate Monday passed a bill that would give $1 million to the state Department of Public Safety to develop and conduct an advertising campaign for law enforcement.

The measure is a response to a labor shortage in law enforcement, with positions opening up faster than they can be replaced.

The bill, SF-2848, was authored by Republican Sen. Karin Housley and passed within a broader package of law enforcement-related bills.

There are currently over 900 law enforcement vacancies throughout the state, including nearly 300 open positions in the Twin Cities, according to the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus.

"This bill elevates and honors law enforcement, while encouraging others to explore opportunities in this noble profession," Housley said in a news release. "We need to create a pipeline that gives law enforcement agencies the support they need."

Not everyone was on board with the measure.

Roseville Democrat Sen. John Marty said the $1 million "is not a wise investment and it's grossly insensitive at this time." Marty proposed to instead spend $2 million on a state program to recruit police officers from underrepresented groups, but that measure failed, the Star Tribune reported.