Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that the state is awarding over $35 million in retention incentives to thousands of Ohio first responders in recognition of their dedication to public safety and ongoing commitment to public service.
Over 10,000 law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel from 309 agencies will receive the retention incentives totaling over $35 million as part of the Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program, which DeWine created last year to address first responder burnout caused by under-staffing and overall job stress.
According to a statement from DeWine e-mailed to reporters, his goal is to ensure that Ohio’s essential first responders have the support and resources they need.
“In Ohio, we value our first responders and know that the work they do is essential. Our goal through this program is to ensure that our firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement officers have the support and resources they need for their personal well-being and in their professional lives,” DeWine said.
According to the press release, since its inception in 2022, the Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program has granted almost $100 million to emergency response organizations.
The Ohio Emergency Management Agency manages the program, which also provides funding to support initiatives like wellness programs that address the particular mental, physical, and emotional health problems that first responders face, recruitment and retention efforts to increase the workforce, onboarding and training expenses, and explorer programs that inform young adults about first responder careers. Several statewide service providers have received about $1.3 million in financing.
The program is supported by the $250 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly committed to first responders to help them address a number of urgent issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as increased stress and reduced staffing levels.
Through establishing the Ohio Office of First Responder Wellness inside the Ohio Department of Public Safety, DeWine gave greater attention to the well-being of first responders. The newly established statewide office is solely dedicated to the welfare of first responders. It offers specialized assistance and education to assist emergency response organizations in proactively addressing post-traumatic stress disorder and other traumas brought on by circumstances particular to first-responder professions.
In addition to these initiatives, DeWine created the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Ohio School Safety Center, Ohio Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment, Ohio Prisoner Extradition Reimbursement Program, Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program, Ohio Ballistics Testing Initiative, Ohio Crime Lab Efficiency Program, Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program, Ohio Court Backlog Reduction Program, and more since taking office in 2019.
Other states, such as Florida and Tennessee, have also attempted to bolster first responder recruitment through bonus programs.
Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 3 into law, which contained a variety of law enforcement programs, including rewards to entice Floridians and out-of-state residents to join state and local law enforcement organizations. Every new hire will receive signing incentives, reimbursement for training programs and moving fees, pay increases, and $1,000 bonuses as part of the recruitment drive. It also established an adoption benefit for officers and a Law Enforcement Academy Scholarship Program for the offspring of law enforcement personnel.
Also, in 2022, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced two additional resources to support local law enforcement agencies in officer recruitment and training following the launch of the $100 million Violent Crime Intervention Fund and continued Proven Crime Prevention investments. This included $24 million to support basic training and $40 million in recruitment bonuses.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
