On Monday, the Minnesota Senate passed emergency funding for law enforcement. This legislation came forward in response to an emergency funding request made by Governor Walz last week. Included language secures $2.75 million for the law enforcement response to civil unrest through the Interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact and $6.3 million for Minnesota State Trooper expenses related to the unrest and Chauvin trial. We have State Highway Law Enforcement Officers coming from other states to help us and they need to be paid for their efforts.
“Citizens across the state deserve to feel safe, and law enforcement organizations need funding and our support to make that happen,” said Senator Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids). “Failed leadership from the Governor and Mayors of Minneapolis and Brooklyn center have failed in every way at managing this crisis and now rioting and unrest are once again taking place in our metro area. Our law enforcement personnel are doing what they can to keep our communities safe, and they need our support now more than ever.”
Earlier this session, the Senate passed legislation funding for the Law Enforcement Operations Account (LEO), committing to keep Minnesotans safe by securing resources for emergency law enforcement operations tied to extraordinary and unplanned emergency events. House Democrats failed to pass the bill or Governor Walz’s version of the legislation, known as SAFE. Additionally, House Democrats have not introduced any of their own provisions regarding emergency police funding, jeopardizing the safety of residents of the Twin Cities and hindering law enforcement’s ability to respond to emergency events.
Today’s legislation is the byproduct of a public safety conversation between legislative leaders and the Governor that took place this past weekend. Legislative leaders all agreed with the importance of getting the bill done at the time of the request.
Also presented today was a resolution that commends the National Guard for their service to our local communities during the civil unrest, and also calls upon the unions to act decisively and fire members of their leadership that forced the Guard Members to leave without notice and allowed the Guard Members to be harassed as they exited the premise.
“The treatment our Guard Members received this past week was just saddening and appalling,” continued Sen. Utke. “Those brave men and women have put their personal lives on hold so they can help keep our communities safe. They were invited to the Labor Center, were asked to leave, and did so peacefully. Yet they were disrespected and yelled at as they left. Union leaders should be held accountable for allowing such terrible treatment of our Guard Members.”
This Resolution follows actions that occurred last Wednesday, when more than 50 members of the Minnesota National Guard were kicked out of the St. Paul Labor Center, despite having permission to be stationed there. Guard Members peacefully left the building as union members taunted and jeered at them.
“We cannot legislate respect, but leadership can at least present a good example, and that’s what we are attempting to do today. Members of our law enforcement organizations and National Guard are Minnesotans just like us, and they deserve our respect and continued support,” finished Sen. Utke.