By Joe O’Dea, Colorado Politics
Our police officers are the cornerstone of our community’s safety. These men and women, who protect us every day, risk not only their lives, but the well-being of their families to serve us.
Yet, it has become increasingly difficult to find individuals willing to make such sacrifices, and departments throughout the state are struggling to recruit and retain qualified officers. For these officers, not only are the risks high, but the rewards remain low. The average Colorado police officer’s salary is roughly $60,000, according to Zip Recruiter. And as the number of police per capita continues to fall, the danger they face rises. In fact, violent and property crime rates still remain higher than they were before the pandemic.
For those who make the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, their families receive only 70% of those officers’ salaries, often adding a financial crisis onto a personal tragedy.
That’s why I’m supporting Proposition 130, which directs the state to set aside $350 million in grants — not money from taxpayers — for local law enforcement agencies to improve police pay, recruitment, hiring and training — including training on the use of force and restraint — as well as bringing in additional officers to address specific types of criminal activity or focus on high-crime areas. Though the $350 million is a one-time set aside, the state would have to continue paying the $1 million death benefit into the future.
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