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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: 3/16/2026 Item No.: 10.d. Department ApprovalCity Manager Approval Item Description:Approve an Application for Department of Public Safety Pathways to Policing Grant Funds 1 2 Background 3 For many years, the Roseville Police Department (RPD) has taken proactive measures to recruit, hire, 4 and retain highly qualified candidates who are committed to serving the Roseville community. As part of 5 this effort, RPD works to broaden its applicant pool and reduce barriers to entry into the profession, 6 recognizing that attracting candidates from non-traditional backgrounds continues to be a challenge. The 7 department values candidates who bring a wide range of life experiences, skills, and perspectives that 8 strengthen service delivery and enhance connections with the community. 9 Since 2019, the Roseville City Council has authorized RPD to apply for and accept funding through the 10 Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Pathways to Policing Program. Over multiple grant cycles, 11 RPD has successfully secured and utilized Pathways funding to reduce financial barriers for aspiring 12 officers. These funds have supported tuition, books, and educational expenses for Community Service 13 Officers (part-time) and Cadet Officers (full-time) who are pursuing Minnesota Peace Officer licensure. 14 In April 2024, RPD was awarded $30,000 in Pathways funding to provide tuition reimbursement and 15 educational assistance to eligible CSOs and Cadets. In July 2024, additional funding was awarded to 16 further support program participants. Several current sworn officers within RPD benefited from this 17 program while serving as CSOs or Cadets, demonstrating measurable success in building an internal 18 pipeline of qualified, community-oriented candidates. 19 Recruitment and retention continue to be significant challenges for law enforcement agencies 20 nationwide. Attracting candidates, particularly those from non-traditional backgrounds, into the 21 profession remains increasingly difficult. Financial barriers associated with peace officer education can 22 discourage otherwise qualified individuals from entering the field. The Pathways to Policing program 23 directly addresses these barriers by helping to offset some of the costs for participants pursuing a law 24 enforcement career. 25 RPD intends to apply for three (3) cost reimbursement grants to support up to three candidates, totaling 26$60,000 ($20,000 per candidate) for the grant period of June 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. 27 By maintaining access to Pathways funding, RPD can continue supporting CSOs and Cadets in 28 achieving licensure and transitioning into full-time sworn positions. In addition to investing in current 29 employees, the availability of tuition and educational assistance serves as a valuable recruitment tool for 30 the CSO and Cadet programs, which are critical components of the department’s long-term hiring 31 strategy. Like many law enforcement agencies, RPD has experienced ongoing challenges not only in 32 hiring licensed officers, but also in recruiting qualified candidates for CSO and Cadet roles. Offering 33 educational support through the Pathways program enhances the competitiveness of these positions, 34 particularly for non-traditional candidates who may face financial barriers to pursuing a law enforcement Page 1 of 3 Qbhf!93!pg!211