Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act

This bill would create a federal grant program to help police departments hire retired officers to support “civilian law enforcement tasks.” Retired officers could train civilian employees and also do certain non-sworn tasks for the department. State, local, Tribal, and territorial agencies could apply for these grants.

Departments using the grants must check whether a retired officer has any past discipline or internal investigations by searching the National Decertification Index or requesting prior personnel records. The chief (or their designee) has to review any findings before hiring. The Department of Justice’s Inspector General must audit grantees starting the first fiscal year after the law takes effect. Agencies with unresolved audit problems can be blocked from new grants for two fiscal years, and agencies with clean audits get priority. DOJ must also prevent duplicative grants for the same purpose.

Key points

• Who is affected: State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies; retired officers; civilian employees; local communities.
• What changes: New grants to hire retired officers to train civilians and perform civilian tasks; required checks of past misconduct; federal audits and penalties for misuse; steps to avoid duplicate funding.
• When: Federal audits begin in the first fiscal year after the law is enacted.