LEXINGTON, Ky. — Senate Bill 89 was filed last week in Frankfort to help the Lexington Police Department with an issue that is being seen throughout the nation: a shortage of police officers.

The bill will give the LPD the opportunity to rehire retired police officers and allow them to continue receiving their retirement benefits. It is co-sponsored by Senators Donald Douglas and Amanda Mays Bledsoe.

“This is one way of making sure the chief, assistant chiefs and the city have those resources so we can put the best public safety plan together for our community and this is really important for that and I think that’s what the city is asking for,” said Mays Bledsoe.

SB 89 is being seen as a win-win situation for both retired officers and the department. Once rehired, the officers would continue to receive their retirement benefits on top of getting paid to work.

“One of the main benefits for us is, with 100 officers short, with that vacancy, we’re hiring folks that can come right back to work, that we have trained, they’ve been through our academy, they know how we work within our city, they know the expectations very quickly,” said Brian Maynard, an LPD assistant chief.

That’s a benefit that Lexington could not partake in, unlike other parts of the state, due to its unique government status.

“It’s been an opportunity that’s been available for all police departments throughout Kentucky, but again, because Lexington is an urban-county government, they weren’t included,” said Sen. Douglas.

Because the bill would revise the retirement system in Lexington, which is the only urban-county government in Kentucky, it needs to be reviewed and approved by the Kentucky General Assembly.

Both of the bill’s sponsors are optimistic that it will pass this year.