Gov. Katie Hobbs has put forth a proposal for a salary bump of 5% for Arizona law enforcement officers, citing a pressing need to both retain and attract new talent to the ranks. During her Arizona Promise Tour on Tuesday, Gov. Hobbs emphasized the imperative to support those who "have demonstrated a commitment to us" by bolstering their financial compensation. Gov. Hobbs spoke alongside the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials, drawing attention to a significant increase in drug seizures over the last year as one of the reasons behind the push for higher wages, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix.

However, this plan was soon met with an alternative from a Republican-controlled legislative committee, which offered a more substantial 15% pay increase for DPS troopers. This bipartisan initiative is seen as a move to help DPS become competitive with other police departments that are currently offering better pay and benefits. The governor's office spokesman stated that the definitive pay rise would be determined during the budget negotiations, which normally conclude sometime in May or June, according to AZ Family.

The proposed financial improvements in the governor's executive budget for Fiscal Year 2026 go beyond just salary increases. Highlights from DPS include an additional $5.9 million for the 5% salary hike for state troopers, increases in uniform allowances for public safety personnel, and funding for two more full-time employees in DPS' Employee Assistance Program to "enhance the well-being of Arizona residents, improve emergency response capabilities, and bolster public safety statewide," as stated by FOX 10 Phoenix.

The ongoing challenges faced by DPS were starkly highlighted by Gov. Hobbs during her announcement, where she revealed that troopers had seized over 6,500 pounds of illegal narcotics in 2024 alone. This haul included a chilling 2,640 pounds of fentanyl pills. Gov. Hobbs was quoted saying, "Our law enforcement officers and DPS work really hard to help stop this crisis," AZ Family noted.