40 law enforcement agencies pull out of Minnesota schools after law change: 'Police were blindsided'
Story by Cortney O'Brien •
2h
A new Minnesota law on how school resource officers can restrain students has led to an exodus of about 40 law enforcement agencies in schools, several outlets have reported.
The new law, which was included in the education bill Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed in May, was interpreted by some police chiefs to mean that school resource officers can only restrain students if they're about to inflict harm on themselves or others. The statute in question previously read that an "agent of the district" may use "reasonable force when it is necessary under the circumstances to restrain a student or prevent bodily harm or death to another." The new provisions caused some confusion by taking the "or" after student and turning it into a "to."
The Anoka, Clay and Hennepin sheriff's departments, and Anoka, Blaine, Champlin and Coon Rapids police departments, are among those who have suspended their school resource officer programs in the wake of the changes. Some police chiefs and sheriffs argue the law restricts officers from intervening in dangerous situations and makes them too vulnerable to criminal charges or lawsuits.
"Police were blindsided by this law," Jeff Potts, executive director of the Minnesota Police Chiefs Association, told NBC News. "The law enforcement community learned about it in August."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/40-law-enforcement-agencies-pull-out-of-minnesota-schools-after-law-change-police-were-blindsided/ar-AA1hkfQl?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=a1c3b859025648d099c845ae770e3031&ei=17
