One-Time Payment for Law Enforcement Approved by Arkansas Senate

Law Enforcement Officers from the state of Arkansas could be receiving a one-time $5,000 payment if passed by the House. The Arkansas Senate approved the proposal on Wednesday in a vote of 33-0 in favor that legislation put $50 million back for the payments.

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson proposed the one-time payment in his state address last month.

Headed to the House

Now the legislation heads to the House for a vote and if passed the payments would go toward certified city and county law enforcement officers and state probation and parole officers. A one-time $2,000 payment would also go to State Police Troopers in the proposal. About 7,300 officers would be eligible for the $5,000 payments, while 542 troopers would be eligible for the $2,000.

If the Arkansas House of Representatives approves, the payments would go out to law enforcement officers in 2023. Officers employed as of July 1, 2022, and officers hired after July 1, 20022, but on or before Jan. 31, 2023, will be eligible.

This all comes into play because many law enforcement agencies have said that recruiting police has become very difficult with everything going on these days. The average wage for Arkansas law enforcement officers was $40,750 a year compared to $28,610 for entry-level officers, according to the State Department of Commerce.