STATEMENT RESPONSE TO TODAY'S PETITION DELIVERY TO MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR JACOB FREY'S OFFICE

Minneapolis, MN (Friday August 21, 2020)

“The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis has a mission to support its officers as public city employees and to ensure they are treated fairly by political leaders as they handle budget and policy decisions. Like other unions, it exists to advocate for its members and as a Board we take that role very seriously, particularly as our membership has been under attack from politicians who have failed Minneapolis.

Politicians and activists don’t get to select who union members choose as their leaders, and politicians don’t get to abscond with their own responsibilities for the policies that have left Minneapolis citizens with skyrocketing crime and without enough police officers to respond to growing numbers of 911 calls.

We call on all parties, including activists and political leaders, to come together to focus on the ending the extreme, escalated violence in our city. Homicides, shootings, and other types of crime are at unprecedented levels, and deserve our attention. Instead of using threatening behavior and rhetoric, let’s work for a stronger and safer Minneapolis, for everyone.”