Across Minnesota, police chiefs are opting for early retirement
Governor Walz has consistently refused to show support for law enforcement since taking office, and now officers are leaving the force in droves. In addition to the number of police chiefs who opted to retire in 2020, at least 32 additional police chiefs have decided to retire this year alone.
The support for law enforcement from public elected officials and the community is at an all time low and the staggering number of retirees is an indication of the intense and relentless environment Governor Walz and his allies have created for law enforcement officers in the field.
Consequently, chiefs aren’t the only ones leaving the force. Police departments across the state are experiencing challenges with retention as officers cite the “hatefulness” and “added stress” from anti-police sentiments as reasons.
The anti-police rhetoric adds to the difficult situation as departments try to get new recruits to help combat the rise in crime and cases that need to be closed. According to a recently retired police chief in Columbia Heights, "It's a stressful job in the best of environments, [but] in the post-George Floyd environment, in the pandemic environment, it became much more stressful. There are a lot of things going on societally. You now have new issues. You have recruiting and retention. You have staff morale. I've been a chief for 14 years — the last two years were by far some of the most stressful."
These retirements come at a time when city residents are urging Governor Walz to issue a more extreme response to the violence that continues to plague our streets and take innocent lives. Minnesotans clearly want a leader who is willing to step up and prioritize public safety, and Governor Walz’s performance over the last few months conveys that he has no intention of being that figure.