Criticism mounts for school resource officer technique changes

St. Cloud, Minn. (KNSI) – Public safety employees are speaking out against a provision in the education bill signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz barring school resource officers from certain use of force techniques.

The law prevents putting students in the prone position, which subjects them to “comprehensive restraint on the head, neck and across most of the torso.”

Jeff Potts, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, wrote a letter to the governor voicing his concerns writing: “Prohibiting the most basic measure of safely restraining and controlling the aggressor in a fight severely impacts the (school resource officer’s) ability to intervene, stop the altercation, and protect everyone’s safety.”

House Minority Leader Representative Lisa Demuth of Cold Spring agreed with Potts and issued a statement against the provision, stating that keeping students safe should always be a top priority, and the move will, “severely undermine school officials in their ability and their duty to provide a safe learning environment for all their students and staff.”

The new law applies to all school employees, but Demuth argues that it targets school resource officers and will make it more difficult to recruit and retain those officers.

The Minnesota Department of Education responded and said it will provide SROs and districts guidance and clarity for the new law in coming days.

Story by Jennifer Lewerentz / KNSI