Chiefs, sheriffs and vendors ask appropriators for training funds and hearing‑protection pilot

Multiple public‑safety organizations asked the House Appropriations Committee to provide recurring funding for mandated training and to consider a pilot program supplying active hearing protection for law‑enforcement officers.

Earl Earnhardt, representing the Association of Chiefs of Police, said state law requires the association to provide chief‑level training to hundreds of incoming command officers and that the association is short roughly $319,932 to fully cover the annual chief‑school training cost of $728,422. Earnhardt said the association has limited independent revenue and that state funding is the appropriate source for the statutorily mandated training.

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association’s executive director noted the association’s recurring training programs and conferences, including events tied to offender‑registration duties; the association said it receives some state support and requested continued or additional appropriations to sustain training for sheriffs and deputies.

Edward Lindsey, representing Starkey Laboratories, described a multi‑jurisdictional pilot in Ohio that provided active hearing‑protection devices to roughly 7,000 officers with a $3 million pilot investment. Lindsey said the devices protect hearing while allowing officers to hear speech and situational sounds; he urged a similar multi‑year program in Georgia and said devices typically have an approximate five‑year useful life. Committee members asked whether the devices would apply to fire service and EMS as well; Lindsey said the technology could benefit other public‑safety personnel.

Panelists asked for consideration in the FY26 process; no votes occurred during the hearing.