Cong. LaHood reintroduces legislation for increasing police wages

Cong. Darin LaHood wants to raise police officers’ salaries. During National Police Week last week, LaHood and Illinois Cong. Mike Bost reintroduced the David Dorn Thin Blue Line Retention Act. It’s named after David Dorn, a retired St. Louis Police captain who was killed in 2020 protecting a store during a riot in the city. The bill authorizes $15 billion through the Department of Justice to help state and local law enforcement get more officers and gives pay raises to officers by allowing recipients to use federal funds to raise an officer’s salary. However, the bill also says that any city that defunds its police department can’t receive any money for pay raises. LaHood says it’s disappointing that some politicians and big-city mayors have sought to undermine the ability of our law enforcement to protect and serve communities. He also says he’s proud to reintroduce the legislation because he’s seen firsthand the sacrifices the men and women who button the blue uniform make to keep Illinoisans safe.