State police superintendent tells Congress qualified immunity is vital to recruitment and retention

Colonel Robert T. Hodges, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, told members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee that qualified immunity is essential for officers to perform their duties without hesitation and that threats to the doctrine have harmed recruitment and retention.

The discussion matters because witnesses tied officer hesitancy and a measurable decline in applicants to public debate over policing policies and proposed legal changes, making recruitment a legislative and budgetary concern for communities.

“I would say absolutely,” Hodges said when asked whether public messaging and policy changes affect recruitment. “Qualified immunity is a must for law enforcement. We can't confidently and effectively do our jobs. We put the public at risk when we don't have that qualified immunity because we hesitate or we pause to act.” He and other panelists described recruitment declines nationwide after 2020 and said Louisiana State Police had 862 troopers in January 2024 and had risen to “over a thousand and seven” at the time of the roundtable.

Panelists attributed the decline to a combination of factors, including public rhetoric, civil unrest, and the pandemic. Sergeant Edward Lehi said departments are offering signing and retention bonuses but are still seeing far fewer applicants than in prior years. Committee members discussed whether federal or state policy actions on liability and funding might influence public safety outcomes and recruitment; the roundtable gathered perspectives but produced no legislative action.

Witnesses urged sustained public support, funding for law enforcement training and equipment, and community engagement to rebuild trust and attract applicants. The roundtable was informational; no binding committee decisions were made.