Do you have any idea how severely understaffed the Minneapolis police department is?
I’ll bet you don’t.
Well, here is your answer: In 2019, the Minneapolis Police Department had ove 900 officers. But now, after years of Mayor frey and Governor walz? It’s down to about 600.
That is a loss of a full third of its total staffing.
Do you have any idea why the Minneapolis police department – with jacob frey as the city’s Mayor and tim walz as the state’s Governor – is so understaffed?
I’ll bet you do.
But in case you don’t, here’s some information that might help, from David Strom’s article at hotair.com (the bold print is mine):
According to the city charter and a court order based on it, the absolute minimum staffing level of the department is 731, but the department has been struggling to fill the slots despite a significant increase in pay in order to attract more officers.
You don’t have to wonder why.
Even worse, about a third of the force is nearing retirement in the next few years, which is likely why so many officers stayed, in fact. Who wants to leave a cushy pension when you just have to stick it out for a year or three?
Now, reports indicate that more officers are leaving due to the department’s horrific morale. The fact that morale is in the toilet is not in dispute; the number of officers leaving or claiming family leave is only rumored, although the source of the rumors is good. Consider the numbers unverified but realistic.
And in case you have any lingering doubt about why this is happening, please read this email, which was sent to members by the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis:
Bottom line: Minneapolis cannot hire new police officers, even at higher pay, in no small part because its elected “leaders” (frey and walz) make the job so undesirable, so much more stressful, so much more dangerous.
And, yes, these are the same frey and walz who are currently doing the same thing – even worse – with ICE agents.
I’ll end with a note to Minneapolis voters – who, let’s remember, are less and less safe when there are fewer and fewer police: You ELECTED these “leaders”. And you got what you elected.
I hope you’re happy about it.
