Senator Gillibrand Proposes Child Care Grants to Address Police Recruitment Shortages

On Monday, at Poughkeepsie City Hall, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand advocated for the passage of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act to address the nationwide shortage of police officers. The bill proposes $24 million in federal funding annually for the next five years to establish a pilot child care services program supporting law enforcement families. Gillibrand emphasized that police officers should not have to choose between child care and their careers, and that improving access to child care would help recruit and retain officers struggling with care challenges due to often extended and nontraditional work schedules. The bill has bipartisan support and the backing of law enforcement organizations including Poughkeepsie Police Chief Rich Wilson. Chief Wilson highlighted the difficulty officers face arranging child care for varying shifts, recalling his own experience as a young officer married to a state trooper. According to a cited study, over 70% of law enforcement agencies find recruitment harder than five years ago, with significant impacts due to child care responsibilities leading some officers to miss or leave work. This issue especially affects women, who account for less than 14% of sworn officers and only 4% of police chiefs. Gillibrand also noted that while pay and public perception impact recruitment, improving child care accessibility is a critical component to maintaining public safety and attracting a diverse, talented police workforce.