State Sen. Tonya Anderson (D – Lithonia) has been selected to serve on the Compensation of Police and Sheriffs (COPS) Task Force by Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. The task force will review compensation and benefits for law enforcement officers and consider ways to increase retention rates statewide.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the men and women who risk their lives daily for the safety and protection of others,” said Anderson. “This task force is a step in the right direction to helping properly compensate our law enforcement while gaining insight from our local law enforcement agencies on ways to increase retention and attraction in the field. I look forward to examining these issues with my fellow senators and other agencies in the coming months.”
“The service and dedication of our law enforcement officials is nothing short of heroic,” said Cagle. “We must make every effort to ensure local compensation packages are both competitive and fair to those who protect and serve. COPS will help local governments identify ways to maximize their support for the men and women who bravely protect our communities and neighborhoods.”
The COPS Task Force is made up of six state senators who will work with counties, cities and other law enforcement officials to review retention issues, gain insight from local law enforcement agencies, and compare Georgia’s compensation rate to that of other states. Officials from the Georgia Sheriffs Association, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Georgia Municipal Association will also be joining the task force.
The first meeting of the COPS task force will take place on June 19, 10 a.m., in room 450 of the Capitol.