(KNSI) — At least two more police departments pulled out of School Resource Officer contracts Thursday due to ambiguous language in the state’s education law banning certain holds to restrain a physical aggressor.
Changes in state law took effect August 1st, which the Plymouth Police Department says in a press release “limits or prohibits an SRO’s ability to physically intervene, de-escalate situations, separate fighting students, restrain/control fighting students or hold aggressors on the floor.”
Attorney General Keith Ellison issued an opinion on the matter after being asked for clarification saying the force used must be reasonable, but now questions are being raised asking what is reasonable and how is it determined and who determines it.
That department is putting its SROs in the patrol division and says they will return to school once the law is changed. Governor Tim Walz has said he is open to discussing changes and has been asked to call a special session to deal with it, but he has so far refused. That means it will be at least February when lawmakers return to St. Paul before anything can happen.
Plymouth Public Safety Director Erik Fadden says, “The way the law is written right now, we are unable to find a viable way for our officers to provide safe and effective service in the schools. The law restricts school resource officers from effectively responding during incidents, which may leave students, staff, parents and officers vulnerable to undue harm.
“The ability to physically intervene is necessary to de-escalate situations and protect students and staff. The changes in state law may make these measures illegal, and subject officers and police departments to criminal and civil liability.”
Champlin Police Chief Glen Schneider sent a letter to residents, staff and students saying that its legal counsel advised the department to refrain from entering into an SRO contract with the Anoka Hennepin School District at the two schools it serves.
The letter, which was obtained by KNSI News through a source, says, “As the Champlin Police Chief, I cannot in good faith put our School Resource Officers in a position that does not provide them the ability to utilize their independent judgment and professional training in responding to potentially dangerous incidents on school district property. I also cannot subject our SRO to potential criminal prosecution or civil liability that could potentially occur as a result of them performing their job while addressing potentially difficult safety situations with the students in our schools.”
The letter asks people to contact the governor’s office and the state legislature to “emphasize to them the urgency associated with resolving the ambiguity and confusion they have created with the passage of these two new state laws.”
Chief Schneider says, “Our students deserve to feel safe in our public schools. We all deserve clarification, and we hope this issue can be resolved expediently.”
No local police departments we have checked with have suspended any SRO programs.
School districts and police departments who have put their program on hold as of Friday include:
Andover
Anoka
Blaine
Coon Rapids
Clay County
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
Moorhead
Redwood Falls
Rockford
St. Louis County
Ulen-Hitterdal
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