Minnesota officials are struggling to decide who will pay for security during the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree murder and wrongful death in the death of George Floyd.
Democratic Governor Tim Walz highlighted on Wednesday a proposed $ 35 million emergency aid account that would be used to reimburse local governments for “extraordinary or unplanned public security events”. The funding is intended to help law enforcement prepare for protests against the trial, which begins on March 8.
Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin allegedly pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, despite his multiple screams that he was unable to breathe, as seen during a video capture arrest that sent shockwaves. all over the country.
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This undated brochure photo provided by Christopher Harris shows George Floyd. (Christopher Harris via AP)
In January, Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter A. Cahill cited concerns about the new coronavirus pandemic when deciding that Chauvin would be tried separately from the three other officers charged in connection with the death. The remaining trio will face trial together over the summer.
The procedures are expected to bring more attention to the city and the potential for further unrest.
“If we are unable to put this account into effect, it undermines the plans that have been made for these tests for months,” Walz told a news conference on Wednesday. “This is an opportunity for Minnesota to present a face to the world to show that we can protect First Amendment rights and we can ensure that public security is respected.”
In a subsequent tweet, Walz said the state “can and must be prepared to protect the safety of the miners”.
But some rural Republicans resisted the governor’s proposal, arguing that their communities should not have to “rescue” Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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Senate Republican Party majority leader Paul Gazelka said in a statement on Wednesday that his caucus would present an alternative plan later this week that would reimburse law enforcement agencies for mutual aid “without taking the dollars out of the fund. education, health or transportation. “
“We will not rescue [the] The Minneapolis city council after making cuts to the public security budget, “he said.” Actions to take money from the police have consequences “.
This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows Derek Chauvin, from left to right, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao.
(Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
House Republicans echoed Gazelka’s statement at their own press conference, where they said the proposed fund does not address what they see as the growing demonization of law enforcement.
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Public Security Commissioner John Harrington said the state is coordinating with the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, in addition to more than 200 police officers across the state, to prepare for next month’s trial. Harrington said the proposed fund would help reimburse law enforcement agencies in other parts of Minnesota, which he said were willing to send personnel, but were concerned about the extra costs.
The House’s public safety committee approved the proposal on Tuesday, with an additional provision requiring law enforcement agencies to follow a model policy created by the state police licensing board to respond to protests. While Walz said he hopes the proposal can be approved by Monday to give the agencies time to prepare, the bill does not yet have a Senate partner controlled by the Republican Party.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.