Gillibrand suggests funding childcare to retain police officers

Providing child care services to police officers is the focus of a bill proposed by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

The bipartisan legislation would provide $24 million in federal funding for child care services for each of the next five fiscal years to support people who keep our communities safe.

Finding child care is a problem for civil servants, who often work unconventional hours.

“During the pandemic, the Albany Police Department lost many officers and recruiting slowed. This left 60 to 70 vacancies in the department at any one time,” she said at a news conference at the department’s headquarters on Friday.

A recent survey found that nearly 20 percent of police officers quit their jobs because of child care issues.

The problem disproportionately affects women, who make up 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership.