Police Recruitment and Retention Workgroup

Senate Bill 380 creates a Police Recruitment and Retention Workgroup to investigate why fewer police officers are staying in Maryland law enforcement. The group will include representatives from the state legislature, the Department of State Police, various police associations, community organizations like the NAACP, and experts in human resources and policing. Members will examine specific factors such as salary levels, training requirements, and retirement rates, while also looking at successful strategies used in other states. The workgroup is tasked with designing a new apprenticeship program for high school students and will ultimately provide recommendations to address the decline in officer retention.