New Grant Opportunity Aims to Address Peace Officer Shortage in Minnesota

The Minnesota Legislature recently approved the establishment of a program within the Department of Public Safety to fund the law enforcement education and training of two- and four-year college graduates. The program, known as the Intensive Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training (ICPOET) Program, is intended to address the critical shortage of peace officers in the state. 

Grants of up to $50,000 available 

The ICPOET Program, established under Minn. State § 626.8516, provides grants to local and tribal law enforcement agencies that have developed a plan to recruit, educate, and train highly qualified two- and four-year college graduates to become licensed-eligible peace officers in the state. A chief law enforcement officer of an agency may apply for a grant of up to $50,000 for the cost of educating, training, and salary of an eligible candidate until the candidate is licensed by the POST Board as a peace officer.

The request for proposal (RFP) grant forms will be available on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety website before the end of the year. Applications are expected to close before Jan. 31, 2024. 

Geographic diversity in grant distribution will be considered based on applications received. Two regionally diverse education providers, Alexandria Technical & Community College and Hennepin Technical College, have been designated to provide the required intensive comprehensive law enforcement education and skills training to eligible peace officer candidates. 

Compare ICPOET and Pathways to Policing grants

The ICPOET grant is in addition to the Pathways to Policing grant opportunities that will be available soon for 2024, although there are no agency matching requirements for the ICPOET grant and it is specifically for career transition candidates who already possess a two- or four-year degree. The current available funding is $2.5 million for the ICPOET grant and $1.56 million for the Pathways to Policing grant. View this chart to compare the ICPOET and Pathways to Policing grants. 

Attend an information session to learn more

Two information sessions are planned before the RFP opens:

• Monday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m - Zoom link for Dec. 4 session
• Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. - Zoom link for Dec. 13 session

Law enforcement agencies may also schedule individual information sessions before the RFP opens. 

Questions about grants opportunities?

If you have any questions related to the ICPOET program, you may contact program administrator Mary Vukelich at the Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-201-7623 or Mary.Vukelich@state.mn.us. If you have questions on the Pathways to Policing program, you may contact grants administrator Kristin Lail at the Office of Justice Programs, Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-230-3358 or Kristin.Lail@state.mn.us.  

You may also contact me at 651-215-4051 or tstille@lmc.org. 

In the meantime, stay safe!    

Tracy