Law Officer Issues Arise

During floor voting on the Defense Department bill, the Senate also added an amendment boosting locality pay for certain law enforcement officers, ordering a study of whether a separate pay, evaluation, and promotion system for law enforcement officers should be established, and authorizing a demonstration project of such a system. The vote comes as civil service leaders in Congress await a report from the administration describing the various law enforcement officer benefit systems that have grown up in various agencies over the years. That report was due several months ago but apparently is still undergoing final review in the administration. The report could lay the groundwork for providing a more standardized package of law officer benefits. The mix of policies is especially an issue in the Department of Homeland Security, which still is operating the legacy systems from the numerous law enforcement agencies it took over upon its creation last year.