State board takes steps to ban law enforcement from having ties to hate groups

On Friday, the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training advanced new rules that could restrict those with ties to hate groups from being licensed law enforcement officers in the state.

The proposed rule includes language that would bar someone who supports, advocates or participates in a white supremacist, hate or extremist group or criminal gang.

The new proposed rule also mentions that the board can review an applicant’s social media posts, and it allows them more opportunity to ask the applicants questions about their involvement in a group.

“The importance of doing it is just that we become a regulatory agency that is in line with what the public expects us to be able to do,” said POST Board chair ​Kelly McCarthy who is also Mendota Heights’ Police Chief.  

“I think people expect that a licensing agency has some sort of say in how those people behave in public, and historically the POST Board had not.”

An administrative law judge will look to see if the rules are reasonable and necessary in the coming weeks.

After the judge weighs in, the POST Board will make a final decision, which could come as early as April.