South Iowa News

Representative Zach Nunn, along with Representatives Josh Harder, Eric Swalwell, and Brian Fitzpatrick, has introduced the Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act. This bipartisan bill proposes a federal grant program to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in hiring retired officers for civilian law enforcement tasks.

Rep. Nunn highlighted the challenges faced by police departments due to staffing shortages, stating: “Staffing shortages mean fewer patrols and slower response times across Iowa.” He added that the bill is "a commonsense way to strengthen public safety and back the blue by putting decades of experience from retired officers to work in civilian roles."

Police departments nationwide are operating at 91% of their authorized levels. In Iowa, the situation is more severe with the Iowa State Patrol experiencing a 40% shortfall. County sheriff’s departments also face difficulties in filling investigative and specialized roles.

The proposed legislation seeks to leverage the expertise of retired officers in areas such as forensics, financial crimes, and IT analysis. It also allows funds to be used for training civilian personnel in supporting core law enforcement operations.

In the Senate, Senators Chuck Grassley and Amy Klobuchar are leading a companion bill which passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee in May.