ST. PAUL – “I do not want to be overly dramatic but without School Resource Officers (SRO) in our schools, students are sitting ducks from attacks by fellow students or others entering schools intending harm,” warned State Senator Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove).

Sen. Limmer’s statement followed an earlier news conference held by the Minnesota law enforcement community that claimed concrete legislative clarification is needed in response to the hastily written law from earlier this session. 

“Micromanaging police tactics from the Education Conference Committee, bypassing the appropriate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, and refusing to listen to testimony from our law enforcement community will get students and teaching staff hurt,” said Limmer.  “It is not a question of ‘if,’ it’s a question of ‘when.’”

“The disturbing video from Mankato East High School should be ringing all the alarms in the Governor’s office to call a special session to fix this language,” Limmer continued. “How many more kids need to be attacked before Walz realizes the only fix is through the legislature?”

Only 20% of Minnesota legislators recently wrote an open letter disagreeing with the prospect of a special session to clarify and correct the legislation affecting SRO’s.

“I believe a majority of legislators remain open to a special session.  Walz needs to decide if he will cave to a radical minority that recognize this legislation as an extension of the Defund Police movement, or will he take seriously the concerns from students and parents that want to see SROs back in schools on a regular basis,” said Limmer.

Limmer is the Lead Republican on the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, which did not get a chance to review the language changes that led to concerns from law enforcement, parents, and school administrators.