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House Bill 445 would form a commission to study law enforcement recruitment and retention; unions, sheriffs and training officials support broader membership
Summary
Representative Terry Roy introduced House Bill 445 to create a commission to study law enforcement recruitment and retention in New Hampshire.
Representative Terry Roy (Rockingham District 32) introduced House Bill 445, which would create a commission to study law enforcement recruitment and retention and to include a mix of law-enforcement stakeholders, educators and other partners.
Roy told the committee he sees recruitment and retention problems across municipalities and described the commission as a way to convene “a brain trust” of people with practical knowledge and to explore policies such as tuition-waiver partnerships with state universities and long-term retirement solutions. He said the bill “doesn’t cost us anything” and could identify structural fixes.
Multiple witnesses supported adding seats to the commission. Michael McLaughlin, representing teams as Local 633, urged inclusion of his union’s members, noting the union represents more than 32 bargaining units and can bring inside expertise. Elizabeth Sargent, speaking for the New Hampshire Sheriffs Association, asked to add a sheriffs’ representative. John Skipper, director of New Hampshire Police Standards and Training, said he had no objection to adding the suggested members and emphasized that the bill should not undercut existing certification and oversight functions of his agency.
Kurt Ehrenberg, speaking for animal welfare interests, asked to add a representative of the Animal Control Officers Association. Senator questions raised whether to include a military or veterans representative because the bill calls for partnerships with the Department of Defense to help service members transition to law enforcement careers; Roy suggested the adjutant general’s office would be a helpful participant.
Committee members discussed the practical risk of creating too-large commissions; Roy asked that the panel’s scope be kept focused so the group does not become “unwieldy.” The committee heard that an amendment (1 620s) had been introduced to add corrections and union representation; witnesses said they supported that change.
No final committee vote was taken at the hearing; the committee asked sponsors to work with senators on amendment language.
