Legislative Amendments to Regulate Use of Force by School Police in Minnesota – Sky Bulletin
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In the legislature of Minnesota, a pivotal movement towards a resolution that would grant school-based police officers clearer directives regarding the use of force is occurring.
In reaction to the 2020 incident resulting in George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, Minnesota instituted a host of police accountability reforms. These included limiting force application methods, for instance, prohibiting chokeholds. Nevertheless, ambiguities within a wide-ranging education statute passed last year prompted approximately 40 police divisions throughout Minnesota to withdraw their officers from educational institutions. They claimed that new limitations on using face-down prone restraints – methods that could hinder respiration – rendered their roles unfeasible.
The Minnesota House sanctioned a bill on Monday with a 124-8 vote, promoting a change endorsed by law enforcement. This amendment is poised to confirm the ability of school resource officers (SROs) to employ prone restraints on students while continuing to forbid school staff from utilizing them. It also stresses the necessity of advanced training and the formulation of a standardized policy regarding the responsibilities of law enforcement officers in academic environments. Moreover, the amendment expressly forbids utilizing officers to enforce disciplinary actions for breaches of school regulations.
School safety and the reassurance of concerned parents are at the forefront of the agenda, according to Republican Rep. Jeff Witte from Lakeville. Rep. Witte, a retired officer from Burnsville with experience as a school resource officer, expressed anticipation for officers to swiftly resume their school-based operations following these legislative rectifications.
The initiative’s primary house proponent, Democrat Rep. Cedrick Frazier of New Hope, highlights the training imperatives and the crafting of the model policy as central elements of the legislation. According to him, the approach will enable input from both community entities and the law enforcement community.
This subject has sparked intensive debate in the young legislative session. While some advocacy bodies opposed any alterations to the existing law, arguing for student safety, a negotiated compromise garnered unanimous bipartisan endorsement after dialogues among Democrats, Republicans, and law enforcement agencies. Anticipations are set on the Senate’s approval of the final legislative document.
Law enforcement associations statewide communicated their support for the agreed terms in a letter to legislators earlier in the week. They expressed an urgent need to solve the situation, allowing SROs to recommence their roles in schools promptly. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association acknowledged that, as of the last autumn, at least 41 school districts experienced the withdrawal of their SROs. Recent figures remain uncompiled, but a spokesperson mentioned that, subsequent to a guidance by Attorney General Keith Ellison, which clarified that the new education law did not inhibit the practice of “reasonable” force to forestall harm or fatality, only a handful of departments have readmitted their officers.
Prior to the George Floyd case, most Minnesota school districts had not chosen to employ SROs. Post-incident, several school systems across the United States, including Minneapolis, discontinued SRO programs amid concerns about the disproportional effects on students of color regarding arrests.
Subsequent to Floyd’s death, many educational institutions nationwide reassessed their approach to police presence in schools. This was exemplified by the Los Angeles Unified School District cutting its police force considerably in 2020 and Denver schools opting to bring back officers after previously deciding to phase them out, mainly due to rising school violence concerns. Nevertheless, Mac Hardy of the National Association of School Resource Officers highlights that quantifying the number of changes is challenging. Hardy emphasizes proper training, especially tailored for those in school settings, and asserts that it is crucial for officers to understand the youth mindset, enabling them to mitigate conflicts effectively.
The legislation in Minnesota is a response to the complex dynamics of police accountability and school safety. By attempting to give school resource officers clear boundaries and instructions on the use of force while placing an emphasis on specialized training and policy creation, the bill aims to create a safer environment for students. Through collaboration and negotiation among political parties and law enforcement, Minnesota lawmakers are navigating the challenges to find a middle ground that ensures safety without compromising the rights and wellbeing of students.
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