Minnesota would fund support workers to help detectives solve crimes

The Minnesota commissioner of public safety would award grants to agencies to hire, train, and retain investigative support workers. Minnesota law enforcement agencies would receive grants to help solve crimes and support victims. Each applicant could receive up to $250,000. Priority would go to agencies with unusually high rates of unsolved crimes and staffing shortages that are a major barrier to solving crimes. Priority would also depend on a plan to use specialists, other evidence of commitment to solving crimes, and specific goals and measures of success. The money would be set aside for fiscal year 2027.

Agencies would use grant money to hire and support workers who assist detectives and investigative supervisors. Specialists hired through the grants could not be police officers or exercise powers and duties reserved exclusively for police officers. Grant spending would have to cover recruiting rules, job descriptions, a procedure manual, hiring, training, and supervision. Training would have to cover confidentiality rules and other relevant policies and procedures. Specialists could not identify themselves as police officers.

Grant recipients would report to the Minnesota commissioner of public safety on how specialists affected their ability to solve crimes. Every agency receiving a grant would have to report. Reports would identify how many specialists were hired, their training, their work, and their impact on solving crimes. Reports would be due six months after the commissioner awards the grant and at the end of the grant period.