• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • California police officer uses K-9’s leash to rescue drowning man
        Small town North Carolina police officer rescues man from house fire
        Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in...
        California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on...
        Stranded driver gets gas refill from helpful police officer
    • Labor
      • San Francisco mulls over increasing police recruitment bonuses to...
        Nevada may soon allow noncitizens to become police officers to...
        Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
        Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
        California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting...
    • Tech
      • FBI seizes website of notorious ransomware gang in cybercrime...
        Wisconsin law enforcement warn of iPhone crash detection feature...
        Snapchat sued for facilitating sale of fentanyl that led to fatal...
        Security flaw in app exposes secret data from hundreds of police raids
        Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition...
    • Training
      • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
        Running your patrol rifle like a champion
        Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
        Defensive tactics
        Mechanics, consistency and aggression
    • Policy
      • Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
        President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
        California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
        Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
        Justice Department launches new language initiative after resolving...
    • Health/Wellness
      • Retired Wisconsin police officer offers mental health services for...
        Coping with internal investigation or legal action
        The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
        What officers love, hope and worry about
        Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
    • Community
      • Newark good Samaritan honored for assisting wounded officers
        LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
        Friday Night Lights duty
        Oklahoma law enforcement teach children self-defense tactics to build...
        Former Superman actor thanks police officers for their...
    • Offbeat
      • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
        “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
        “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
        Wyoming police officer restores classic Chevy Bel Air as police...
        Santa Cruz police arrest 19-year-old for handing out fake parking...
    • We Remember
      • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
        Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
        Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
        Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
        At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • On the Job
    • California police officer uses K-9’s leash to rescue drowning man
      Small town North Carolina police officer rescues man from house fire
      Boulder police recover $400,000 in stolen paintings, drug stash in...
      California police officer rescues three people from car teetering on...
      Stranded driver gets gas refill from helpful police officer
  • Labor
    • San Francisco mulls over increasing police recruitment bonuses to...
      Nevada may soon allow noncitizens to become police officers to...
      Florida pays out $5M in hiring bonuses for more than one thousand...
      Cops leave NYPD in highest number since 9/11
      California police department to pay academy costs to boost recruiting...
  • Tech
    • FBI seizes website of notorious ransomware gang in cybercrime...
      Wisconsin law enforcement warn of iPhone crash detection feature...
      Snapchat sued for facilitating sale of fentanyl that led to fatal...
      Security flaw in app exposes secret data from hundreds of police raids
      Minnesota law enforcement agencies turn to facial recognition...
  • Training
    • Pennsylvania police utilize VR for de-escalation training
      Running your patrol rifle like a champion
      Present ability, opportunity and apparent intent
      Defensive tactics
      Mechanics, consistency and aggression
  • Policy
    • Arkansas sheriff’s offices refuse to enforce federal ATF gun policy
      President Biden signs bill expanding national missing persons database
      California Highway Patrol spotlights new traffic laws for 2023
      Texas law enforcement leaders say the state has too many police...
      Justice Department launches new language initiative after resolving...
  • Health/Wellness
    • Retired Wisconsin police officer offers mental health services for...
      Coping with internal investigation or legal action
      The value of data: Wellness through the eyes of officers
      What officers love, hope and worry about
      Don’t be “that guy” — get moving
  • Community
    • Newark good Samaritan honored for assisting wounded officers
      LAPD chief bans “Thin Blue Line” flag from department use
      Friday Night Lights duty
      Oklahoma law enforcement teach children self-defense tactics to build...
      Former Superman actor thanks police officers for their...
  • Offbeat
    • Drunk-driving suspect performs backflip for Ohio police during...
      “Like a scene from ‘Home Alone’”: Georgia man slips on ice...
      “Some real sitcom stuff there”: Florida burglars call 9-1-1 for...
      Wyoming police officer restores classic Chevy Bel Air as police...
      Santa Cruz police arrest 19-year-old for handing out fake parking...
  • We Remember
    • “I had a calling”: Colorado cadet inspired by fallen hero Eric...
      Chicago police remember fallen and injured officers this holiday...
      Deputy killed by roommate after he “jokingly” pulled trigger of...
      Maryland’s oldest cold case solved
      At least 13 officers shot in five days as wave of violence sweeps...
  • Between the Lines
    • Persecution of the LEO is Classic Schadenfreude
      The Rule of Law is Worthless Without Order
      School policing: a paradox of the defund movement
      Defending the honor of the LE profession – finally!
      The dichotomy of the defund movement: reality setting in
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Policy

Minnesota law enforcement leaders blame prosecutorial discretion for increase in crime

APB Team Published November 24, 2021 @ 4:00 pm PST

benkrut

Minnesota law enforcement leaders blamed county prosecutors’ policies for the increase in crime and decrease in public safety at a recent state Senate hearing.

The hearing, held by the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, as well s the Senate Transportation Committee, focused on violent crime in the state.

Law enforcement leaders blamed the crime on anti-police rhetoric, budget cuts, staffing shortages and “absurd” policies by county prosecutors that let criminals off the hook without being charged.

Leaders pointed to Ramsey County Attorney John Choi’s recent policy decision to not prosecute felony cases resulting from non-public-safety traffic stops – or stops due to a minor traffic violation. Choi argued the decision was to protect people of color who are disproportionately affected by such stops.

Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, criticized the decision.

“Basically the county attorney just announced his office won’t uphold the law and won’t prosecute those who break it,” he said. “That’s absurd and a slap in the face to victims.”

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher also attended the meeting, and took issue with Choi’s describing traffic stops as a mere “pretext” for police to pull people over to look for criminal activity.

“These officers are not stopping cars out of pretext or ruse. They’re stopping cars because they believe it to be their job based upon the laws that you have passed,” he said. “I think that this was a mistake for the county attorney to make the decision as to what law enforcement should or should not do.”

Other leaders like Chisago County Sheriff Brandon Thyen said his county will continue to enforce traffic laws and prosecute felonies connected with them to keep the public safe.

“The ‘don’t enforce’ or ‘will not prosecute the current laws’ leads the public to believe law enforcement is being shelved. That message, I believe, causes fear in the general public. That’s what I’ve seen from my constituents that are reaching out to me in reference to some of these decisions being made.”

Officials also noted their dissatisfaction with policies that prevent police from pursuing fleeing suspects, such as Hennepin County’s decision to barr police from pursuing a fleeing suspect unless they believe the suspect has committed a serious and violent felony or is about to do so.

Thyen said that suspects are aware and emboldened by the new rules.

“When our deputies are making contact with the suspects, a lot of them are even surprised that we have pursued them,” Thyen said. “They make comments that in the metro, they are not pursued.”

Maple Grove Chief Eric Warner also called attention to how “prosecutorial discretion” is hampering policing, saying that decisions from city officials are taking a toll on officers’ morale.

“This morning before this committee hearing I accepted the resignation of one of my well-respected veteran officers who, quite frankly, said, ‘I am submitting this retirement letter two years early because the system is failing us,’” Warner said. “‘There’s a sense of lawlessness out there, and I am not going to put my career and my life and my family at risk anymore,’” the chief said, quoting from the officer’s letter.”

Senators like Mary Kiffmeyer, R-Big Lake, agreed, adding that her constituents feel there is more concern for perpetrators of crimes than the victims.

Categories: Policy Tags: Bob Fletcher, Law Enforcement, crime, Minnesota, traffic stops, policy, prosecutorial discretion, public safety, Senate, John Choi

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Retired Wisconsin police officer offers mental health services for first responders
  • FBI seizes website of notorious ransomware gang in cybercrime crackdown
  • San Francisco mulls over increasing police recruitment bonuses to avoid “cata-strophic” staffing shortage
  • California police officer uses K-9’s leash to rescue drowning man
  • Wisconsin law enforcement warn of iPhone crash detection feature triggering false-alarm 9-1-1 calls
  • Small town North Carolina police officer rescues man from house fire
  • Snapchat sued for facilitating sale of fentanyl that led to fatal overdoses
  • Newark good Samaritan honored for assisting wounded officers
  • Nevada may soon allow noncitizens to become police officers to reverse staffing shortages
  • Security flaw in app exposes secret data from hundreds of police raids

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close
Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.