Statewide public safety discussion tour now underway

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan are officially launching a statewide public safety tour.

The announcement comes after Walz held a roundtable in Eagan and North Minneapolis on the same topic.

Wednesday, Walz and Flanagan will hold a roundtable in Brooklyn Park at 2 p.m.

The governor’s public safety plan calls for spending $300 million in public safety grants.

House Republican Minority Leader, Rep. Kurt Daudt, has previously said his caucus’ public safety plan will focus on spending money for officer recruitment, as well as the training and retention of law enforcement officers in cities hit hardest by crime.

Meanwhile, the House DFL package for public safety includes $40 million for “innovation in community safety grants,” $22 million for “local community policing grants,” another $22 million for “crime investigation grants,” $10 million for “opiate epidemic response grants” to prevent opioid deaths.

There are also smaller amounts in the House DFL’s plan for body camera grants ($2.5 million) and money for the Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) board to hire investigators to look into alleged code-of-conduct violations among police officers. The POST board will also get money to come up with ways to recruit quality peace officer candidates.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Walz’s proposed plans, and CLICK HERE to learn more about the GOP’s proposed plans.