John -
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Minneapolis must employ a minimum of 731 officers to serve its police department. We must go about this the right way, it could be an opportunity.
I’ve spoken with and listened to community members and local leaders about the issues facing our county — the residents of Minneapolis want to feel safe, want new police leadership and they want a police force that works with the community, not against it.
I introduced a bill in the state House earlier this spring that would have improved the peace officer recruitment pool and brought in more officers with a community-based mindset. Unfortunately, that bill was blocked from moving forward. Without improvements to our police system, community crime prevention groups are left to solve the public safety issues alone.
We need a comprehensive approach to improving the existing recruitment and training models for policing, an approach rooted in community values. That is why as Majority Leader I’ve made a point of meeting with quality leaders in police departments across our community and will continue to do so as County Attorney. The work of the County Attorney is not possible without the resources of these departments.
We also need to better coordinate local, community efforts with public safety departments. The community should have the right to weigh in -- as they have with the police chief recruitment search. If we achieve that, we can fill the empty ranks of officers with people who want to serve everyone in our communities.
We can restore public safety and public trust in our criminal justice system, but first we must recruit and retain police officers of good moral standing who have a community mindset and who come from the neighborhoods they’re serving. It is more than just hiring and employing a lot of officers; it’s about hiring the best officers. And that takes a plan.
Add your name to show you support a deliberate plan to rebuilding the ranks of law enforcement in Hennepin County.
Sincerely,
Ryan
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