TN Announces $30M In Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonuses, $24M In Basic Training Funding

Image Credit: Gov. Bill Lee / Facebook

The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –

Tennessee announced $24 million to cover increased expenses in law enforcement basic training and $30 million for recruitment bonuses for law enforcement on Friday.

The announcement, regarding expenses included in this year’s Tennessee budget, come after Gov. Bill Lee announced a $100 million violent crime intervention fund earlier in the week.

Lee was given a “D” rating in the Cato Institute’s Fiscal Report Card on America’s Governor this week related to his taxing and spending policies, pointing to a 21% budget increase for Tennessee this year.

The new $24 million basic training support will cover the local cost of 12 weeks of training for new officers that will save departments more than $3,000 per officer. The fund will cover Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, training uniforms and other professional development expenses.

“To stay ahead of the nationwide spike in crime, Tennessee is taking every step to recruit, train and retain highly-qualified law enforcement officers to keep our communities safe,” Lee said. “I commend police departments and sheriff’s offices for their continued partnership, and I’m confident these additional measures will strengthen public safety and relieve financial burdens for local law enforcement agencies.”

The $30 million in recruitment bonuses will give bonuses to more than 3,000 new officers, paid in early 2023 after rulemaking determines the details of the program.

“Providing law enforcement with the best training available is what Tennessee citizens expect, and it is what we go to work every day to provide,” said Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Commissioner Carter Lawrence. “Governor Lee’s bold, visionary plan for training and recruitment will help provide quality training for more local recruits at Tennessee’s premier law enforcement training academy without impacting the bottom line of Tennessee’s local governments.”

About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.