Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Law Enforcement Training topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate panel lays over bill to continue Philando Castile memorial police training fund
Summary
The Minnesota Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee laid over Senate File 1701, which would continue funding for the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund. Law‑enforcement leaders urged continued support, saying smaller agencies rely on the fund for state‑mandated training.
The Minnesota Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on April 7 laid over Senate File 1701, author Senator Mary Duckworth's bill to continue funding for the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund, for possible inclusion in the committee's omnibus budget and policy package.
The proposal would maintain funding for training programs used by law enforcement across the state. Supporters told the committee the fund supplies required and specialized training that many small agencies cannot otherwise afford.
Sheriff Dan Starry, testifying on behalf of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, said the fund supports “real world, hands on instruction in de‑escalation, decision making under pressure, cultural awareness, autism response, and conflict resolution.” He told the committee the training “leads to safer outcomes, reduced use of force, and stronger community relationships.”
Chief Roger New of the Eagan Police Department, who also identified himself as president of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, told the committee the fund is especially important to smaller agencies. “In the state, 70% of our law enforcement agencies have less than 20 officers,” New said. “For many of these smaller agencies, the Philando Castile Memorial Fund is the only source of training support.” He urged the committee not to cut funding that pays for state‑mandated training including use‑of‑force, crisis response, conflict resolution, cultural diversity and autism training.
Chair Ron Latz told members the committee would “lay over Senate File 1701 for possible inclusion in our budget bill.” No final vote on the bill was taken; the committee recorded the item for possible inclusion in an omnibus package the chair said the committee hopes to finalize later in the week.
The Department of Public Safety, in later testimony on the omnibus package, noted the governor's revised budget included a one‑time $2,000,000 allocation for the Philando Castile Memorial Training Fund.
Next steps: the bill remains under consideration for inclusion in an omnibus budget and policy bill the committee planned to take up later in the week.
