Law Enforcement Workforce Recruitment, Retention, and Tuition Grant Program

To assist Law Enforcement Agencies in addressing workforce shortages, improve the training given to POST certified Peace Officers; and improve relationships between Law Enforcement and impacted communities

Resource: SB22-145

C.R.S. 24-33.5-528. Law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention, and tuition grant program

1. Recruiting, paying the tuition for, and training individuals to work in POST certified law enforcement careers;

2. Increasing the number of persons receiving training as POST certified and non-certified law enforcement personnel and improve the training provided to such persons;

3. Improving the training provided by entities approved for providing training by the peace officer standards and training board, referred to in this section as "approved POST Board trainers", by enhancing their curriculum to expand mental health, implicit bias, cultural competency, critical incident, de-escalation, and trauma recovery training and increasing the availability of workforce mobility; 

4. Providing continuing education opportunities for POST certified and non-certified law peace officers; and increase activities intended to foster a more positive relationship between law enforcement and impacted communities;

5. Providing opportunities for POST certified and non-certified law peace officers to receive training in equity, diversity and inclusion;

6. Providing, or assisting in the provision of child care for peace officers;

7. Providing, or assisting in the provision of cardiovascular and other health screenings;

8. Creating partnerships with schools, school districts, colleges or universities to develop and implement internship or mentorship programs for students interested in a career in law enforcement;

9. Creating partnerships with schools, school districts, or youth-services organizations to develop and implement youth programs to foster a positive relationship between youth and law enforcement and to foster early interest in law enforcement careers;

10. Developing and implementing education campaigns for law enforcement workforce recruitment, retention and tuition assistance;

11. Implementing any other strategy demonstrated to recruit, train and retain a high-quality and diverse law enforcement workforce if deemed appropriate by the Division.
     

Examples of best practices: President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Report

$3,387,310 
 

Where 20% must go to Law Enforcement Agencies in rural counties and municipalities with a population of fewer than 50,000 persons, wholly located either east of Interstate 25 or west of the continental divide.

January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025

A match is not a requirement for this funding.

The Advisory Committee encourages applicants to show a commitment from either local governments or other funding committed by partner agencies for this project to support sustainability.
 

A law enforcement agency shall use the grant money to supplement the costs of recruitment and training. A local government or law enforcement agency may not use the grant money to supplant these costs.

A law enforcement agency may not use the grant award to cover the costs of eligible law enforcement officer salaries and benefits if the eligible law enforcement officers would have been hired by the law enforcement agency even if the division had not awarded the law enforcement agency the grant.

• Colorado law enforcement agencies, including those serving rural municipalities and counties 
• Tribal law enforcement agencies that serve fewer than fifty thousand residents
• Third-party membership organizations on behalf of a law enforcement agency 
• Any state institution of higher education, as defined in section 23-18-102 (10), that operates a law enforcement academy.
   

The Advisory Committee will evaluate applications on the following criteria:

• How the grant would improve and support P.O.S.T-certified and non-certified peace officer recruitment and retention;
• Compliance of the applicant with all relevant state and local laws or a demonstration of how the applicant will come into such compliance;
• Sustainability of the project after the grant ends; and
• If the grant includes activities that are likely to foster a more positive relationship between law enforcement and the impacted community.

The Law Enforcement Workforce Advisory Committee will meet and make funding recommendations in October. 

Applications that are denied funding may submit an appeal within 3 days of notification, however, appeals may only contain clarifying information specific to the reasons noted in the denial notification and can not contain new information. 
 

The Law Enforcement Workforce Recruitment, Retention, and Tuition Grant Program Announcement, Application and Application Instructions can be obtained through Colorado’s on-line application system, ZoomGrants.
Apply Now in ZoomGrants.  

Project applications must be submitted on or before WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16, 2023 at 5:00PM MST.  DCJ support ends at 5:00PM MST. 

PROJECT APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON-LINE.  

Failure to submit a complete project application may result in denial of funding.

We highly recommend applicants read all of the Application Instructions. 

The grant announcement, application, and instructions can be obtained in the library on ZoomGrants.
 

If awarded, grantees will receive additional information regarding administrative requirements.
Sample Grant Agreements may be found here: https://dcj.colorado.gov/grant-agreements-and-federal-requirements 

The grantee will be required to submit financial and programmatic reports describing how the grant funds were utilized, including data and other relevant information on performance metrics. These reports will be required quarterly and on or before August 1, 2024, and August 1, 2025. Performance metrics will be outlined at the time of the award.

Announcement date: July 12, 2023
Application deadline: August 16, 2023
Funding decision announced: October
Reconsideration/appeals deadline: Approximately 3 days following Denial Notification
Grant Agreement Issuance: December
Award Period: January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025
 

Robyn May
Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, OAJJA
700 Kipling Street
Denver, CO 80215
Direct: 303-842-3344
E-mail: robyn.may@state.co.us

If you experience problems or have questions about how to use ZoomGrants, please contact dcjgms@state.co.us.

The State of Colorado is committed to providing equitable access to our services to all Coloradoans. The Division of Criminal Justice is committed to making its physical campus and digital resources accessible to everyone. The Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) strives to ensure equal access to the services we provide to everyone with and without disabilities. To best meet reasonable accommodation needs for effective communication or a reasonable modification to programs, services, or activities, please contact us a week prior to the activity or event.

DCJ will make every effort to provide requested reasonable accommodations, however, failure to notify DCJ of requested accommodations at least 3 business days prior to the date of the activity or event date may result in delay or denial of the accommodation.