Friends and neighbors –
It is no secret that public safety has deteriorated across Minnesota due to Democrats’ reckless policies and lack of respect for law enforcement. Rather than focusing on keeping communities safe, Democrats have pushed an anti-police agenda that releases criminals and prevents officers from doing their jobs.
Unfortunately, their anti-law enforcement approach to governing is now putting students in jeopardy.
School districts across the state contract with local law enforcement to place officers at schools. These officers, called School Resource Officers (SROs), play a vital role in school safety. They build relationships with students and staff, and their training enables them to de-escalate conflicts, prevent violence, and respond appropriately and immediately to any dangerous incidents. Most importantly, SROs are uniquely equipped to protect students and teachers while also serving as mentors and positive role models.
Last session, Democrats passed an unnecessary but consequential change to state law that has caused more than 40 police departments to remove these SROs from schools.
It has already had serious repercussions: Fights at two high schools severely injured one student and resulted in the assault of a school staffer. At Mankato East, a large brawl broke out during the first week of classes, only a week after SROs were withdrawn from schools in the district. The school was placed into lockdown to get the situation under control, and the mother of one of the students told the media, “They could have killed my son.”
Republicans have been calling for an immediate Special Session to protect students by changing the law back to the way it was before, but Democrats aren’t interested. Gov. Tim Walz, after initially saying Republicans “may be right” about this issue, changed his mind and said he will not call a Special Session to keep kids safe.
When the bill was being debated in February, Republicans warned this might happen. Our concerns were ignored then, just as Democrats continue to ignore the concerns of parents, school officials, and law enforcement about this issue now.
It is the latest example of the fallout of Democrats’ years-long effort to defund, demoralize, and undermine law enforcement.
Take this year’s Public Safety bill. Democrats did not crack down on criminals. They did not hold judges and prosecutors accountable for letting offenders off with light sentences. They did nothing to strengthen law enforcement or put more good cops on the streets.
Instead, Democrats issued a get-out-of-a-jail-free card to criminals throughout Minnesota:
- Their bill reduced prison time for offenders, making 92% of Minnesota’s prison population eligible for even earlier release.
- They reduced sentences for juveniles charged as adults for violent crimes.
- They capped probation terms for felonies at five years.
- They passed gun control measures against law-abiding citizens.
- They changed landlord-tenant law, including limitations against crime-free lease terms, making it harder for landlords to keep their buildings safe.
- And they funneled $91 million to untested and unproven non-profit allies.
It is crystal clear that Democrats have no interest in doing enough to keep us safe. They are continuing their incomprehensible effort to defund and weaken the police, letting criminals get out of jail free, and putting students in jeopardy. They would rather undermine police than give law enforcement the tools they need to keep us safe.
The Democrats’ approach might be good for their activist base but is the wrong direction for Minnesota.
Contact me
I love hearing your feedback! If you ever have any comments, questions, or concerns about what we are working on here at the Capitol, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can reach me by phone at 651-296-5612 or email me at sen.steve.drazkowski@senate.mn.
I also email a regular legislative update. If you’d like to sign up, please email me and I will put you on our list!
And follow me on Facebook here: https://www.fb.com/SenatorDrazkowski.
It is a privilege to serve you.