HARRISBURG, PA — A Pennsylvania task force has delivered 24 recommendations to lawmakers aimed at addressing growing recruitment and retention challenges among police officers, corrections personnel and prosecutors, as agencies across the Commonwealth struggle to fill vacancies and retain experienced staff.
The report, submitted this week to the General Assembly, concludes a yearlong review led by Attorney General Dave Sunday under a task force created through Senate Resolution 94. The panel was established by legislation authored by state Sens. Wayne Langerholc and Joe Picozzi.
According to the report, staffing shortages have become a statewide concern affecting law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions and prosecutor offices, with officials citing compensation, working conditions and competition among agencies as major factors.
“These brave public servants maintain peace and safety in our communities, so we must all be aware of what is making recruitment of new personnel a real challenge statewide and pushing officers to other careers,” Sunday said.
The 122-page report was informed by testimony and feedback gathered during meetings with law enforcement leaders and personnel throughout Pennsylvania.
Among its recommendations, the task force urged lawmakers to improve salaries and benefits, enhance workplace conditions, expand retention incentives and address compensation disparities between agencies that compete for the same workforce.
The report also recommends exploring tuition assistance programs for children of law enforcement officers and examining how staffing shortages in related fields, including substance use disorder treatment and mental health services, place additional burdens on public safety personnel.
The task force further called for efforts to reduce pay disparities between law enforcement agencies and prosecutor offices, noting that higher-paying departments often attract personnel away from lower-paying jurisdictions.
Lawmakers were also encouraged to support a statewide survey of prosecutor salaries, which the report noted can vary significantly by county.
“The goal was simple: recruit and retain more law enforcement,” Langerholc said. “More law enforcement means safer streets, students, and communities.”
Picozzi said agencies across the state continue to report staffing shortages that are increasing pressure on existing personnel.
“When I speak with law enforcement, the message is consistent: staffing shortages are making an already demanding job even more difficult,” Picozzi said. “If we want to attract and retain the next generation of public safety professionals, we must be willing to invest in the people doing this important work.”
The recommendations are advisory and would require legislative action to be implemented. The report is now before members of the General Assembly for consideration.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.