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Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Statement of Crime Subcommittee Ranking Member Robert “Bobby” Scott in Support of Congressman Pierluisi’s Legislation, H.R. 1550, the Federal Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Act of 2011

Recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers is an increasing challenge for police agencies at all levels, including among federal agencies. Pending baby-boom-generation retirements, military call-ups, local budget crises, changing work preferences of younger generations, and the general competition for qualified applicants among competing law enforcement entities, all contribute to this challenge.

And recruitment and retention is especially challenging to jurisdictions with high rates of violent crime. The high incidence of violent crime in a jurisdiction not only has a deterrent effect on a federal law enforcement officer or agent from seeking assignment to such a jurisdiction, but also results in a high turnover in that jurisdiction – agents tend to transfer away from such posts as soon as they have fulfilled their minimum term of service.

H.R. 1550, the “Federal Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Act of 2011” sponsored by the Gentleman from Puerto Rico, Mr. Pierluisi, would direct the Attorney General to establish a program to recruit, assign and retain individuals to serve in federal law enforcement positions within jurisdictions that have experienced a high rate of homicide or other violent crime. Enactment of this legislation will assist in alleviating under-staffing of Department of Justice agencies in jurisdictions with a high rate of homicide or other violent crime.

Mr. Pierluisi, informs us that the DEA’s San Juan Field Division has not only had difficulty recruiting agents to work there, but has experienced even greater difficulty retaining agents beyond their standard three-year commitment. We know that it is much more cost-effective to retain an officer than to recruit a new officer to replace a departing one. Common sense, therefore suggests that devoting resources to addressing these kinds of challenges will not only fill positions, but do so in a manner more effective in addressing violent crime.

This bill, when passed, will create an office that is dedicated solely to recruitment and retention. It directs the Attorney General to designate an official within the Department of Justice to be the Federal Coordinator of that office, and it must do so no later than 120 days after passage. That office’s mandate will be to consult with state and local agencies in determining the best and most effective practices for improving recruiting and retention. Several local police departments, including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, have successfully addressed their personnel challenges by establishing an office that is specifically charged with recruitment and retention. I see no reason why the Department of Justice, if it establishes such a program with dedicated staff, cannot achieve similar successful outcomes. The legislation’s annual reporting requirement will provide Congress with the opportunity to review the Department’s progress.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.