$3.5 Million Distributed to Show Support to ND’s Nearly 2,220 Local Law Enforcement and Corrections Officers

Posted 1/11/24 (Thu)

Donnell Preskey | Government/Public Relations Specialist

Just in time for the holidays, the State distributed $3.5 million to counties and cities to go to licensed law enforcement officers and correctional officers. The 2023 Legislature approved $3.5 million as part of a Back the Blue initiative to provide grants to local law enforcement agencies for recruitment and retention of officers.

The funds were distributed based on the number of licensed officers and correctional officers in each agency. Each agency was allowed discretionary control in determining how the funds should be distributed. The legislation requires the funds to be used for recruitment bonuses, retention bonuses or tuition payments for law enforcement trainees. A majority of Sheriffs’ Offices plan to use the Back the Blue Grant for retention bonuses. Their plans for distributing the funds vary from allocating the bonus in one lump sum right away to providing the bonuses quarterly in each paycheck to holding it until the end of the year or grant period.

Of the $3.5 million, Sheriffs’ Offices and jails received $1.8 million to be distributed to 1260 county employees (735 licensed officers and 525 county correction officers). The grant provided a higher dollar amount per officer ($2,885) to agencies and jails with less than ten officers. There are 31 counties that fell into this category. $1,419 per officer was distributed to agencies with ten or more officers.

Burleigh County used a portion of the funds for a recruitment effort. With the advertising of a hiring bonus, Sheriff Kelly Leben says they saw double the number of applicants that typically apply. Burleigh County also added county funds to the hiring bonus.

Local Law Enforcement and Corrections Officers Feeling Appreciative of Back the Blue Grants

Golden Valley County Sheriff Dey Muckle testified on the importance of the Back the Blue Grants during the Legislative Session. In his small department of five, he is hopeful the retention bonus will encourage his deputies to stay.

Leben says he expects the grant will be good for retention efforts based on feedback from deputies. “Our main goal is to retain employees. If we don’t have a retention problem, we won’t have a recruitment problem.”

Williams County used the Back the Blue Grant for retention only and distributed the funds to deputies and corrections officers quickly so they could have the bonus prior to the holidays. “I received a lot of feedback from staff of their appreciation of the bonus. It’s too early to tell if the Back the Blue Grant will be effective in retention efforts.”

Because the legislation was focused on licensed officers and corrections officers, Williams County also approved bonuses from the Sheriff’s Office budget to support staff not eligible for the Back the Blue Grant. “I know it takes everyone in the Sheriff’s Office to make things function at its best, said Williams County Sheriff Verlan Kvande.

Grand Forks County Sheriff Andy Schneider agrees that the grant sends a strong message to local law enforcement. “I hope that law enforcement across the state and across the country recognize that North Dakota is one of the best states to work as a law enforcement officer. When a legislative assembly specifically singles out one line of employment to offer additional funding to, that makes an impact. Our state supports the difficult position that law enforcement is in on a daily basis, and they have our back.”