FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Tinsley, 651.297.8134 (desk)
Amanda.Tinsley@house.mn
News Release
ST. PAUL – With 44 Democrat lawmakers declaring that they are against fixing the law which has left dozens of schools without school resources officers (SROs), State Representative Duane Quam, R-Byron is urging those Democrats who remain to join with Republicans, working together on a solution, and asking Governor Walz to call a special session.
"I am concerned about the safety of students and staff at our schools, disappointed that the majorities in the House and Senate blocked hearings/testimony during session, and are now unwilling to work on a fix that will keep students and teachers safe," said Quam. "SROs need to be able to de-escalate aggressive or violent situations, but this law puts politics ahead of safety in schools. We need to fix this as soon as possible."
Quam states that this new law removes tools SROs can use to deescalate situations, and keep students and teachers safe. In response, over 40 law enforcement agencies have pulled SROs from schools across Minnesota.
Quam also said that have already seen a tragic incident in southern Minnesota, that this isn’t a time for political games, not with student and teacher safety, and urged Democrats to do the right thing by joining Republicans in addressing law enforcement’s concerns with the new law and brining SROs back to the schools that have lost them.
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