Walz requests help from other states ahead of Chauvin trial verdict
Law enforcement officers clear an area of demonstrators during a protest over Sunday's fatal shooting of Daunte Wright during a traffic stop, outside the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, in Brooklyn Center, Minn.[John Minchillo/Associated Press/File]
Monday, Gov. Tim Walz asked for help from Ohio and Nebraska ahead of the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.
Walz’s request under the federal Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is part of the state’s response to requests for public safety help from local governments.
"As the world awaits a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin, we need support in our efforts to preserve the First Amendment right of peaceful protests while protecting public safety," Walz said. "I am grateful to our colleagues in Ohio and Nebraska for their willingness to provide assistance and relief to our State troopers and law enforcement officers as they continue to work to keep the peace in our communities."
Walz also asked the Minnesota Legislature to provide funding to support the additional assistance. The Senate on Monday passed a bill authorizing $2.75 million for law enforcement response through EMAC and $6.3 million for Minnesota State Trooper expenses related to the unrest and Chauvin trial. Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman said she’ll continue to work with Walz and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka to provide the emergency funding but said the specific amount of funding needed wasn’t yet clear.
The troopers from supporting states will report to the Minnesota State Patrol and will be assigned to security missions at key state facilities, Walz’s office said. That will allow Minnesota’s troopers and Department of Natural Resources conservation officers to support safety efforts in the metro.