Due to uncertainty surrounding a change to a statewide school discipline law, Minnesota has recently seen more than a dozen police departments announce the removal of their school resource officer (SRO). This issue is also affecting local schools in Senate District 12, with the Echo Press recently reporting that Alexandria’s school resource officer program is in jeopardy due to this change.  

In response, Republicans proposed a bipartisan bill to fix the change in law. 

“This new Democrat law restricts our school resource officers from carrying out their duties and keeping our schools safe,” Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria) said. “With the new school year upon us, we need to find an immediate solution that provides the clarity our officers are seeking. Republicans have a simple solution to this issue, and I urge Democrats to join us and get it resolved as soon as possible.” 

The new law at issue, which was not supported by Westrom, passed as a portion of a larger education bill and changes how SROs can operate and use force in the course of their jobs. When this legislation moved through the Senate Education Policy Committee, Republicans voiced their strong concerns with this policy change and urged Democrats to talk with SROs about it. However, Democrats, with their trifecta power, chose to ignore the issues raised and rammed it through without feedback from law enforcement. 

The bill as proposed simply repeals the recent law change eliminating prone restraints or physical holds and repeals the change to use of force standards to revert back to the original language that was in statute. The change does not impact the 2021 bill that banned all neck and chokehold restraints and remains in place for students and all Minnesotans. 

During the press conference, Republicans also presented a letter from House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) and Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson (R- East Grand Forks) asking the Governor to meet to discuss a special session.