ST PAUL, Minnesota — There is growing concern that a critical funding source for police officer training will be reduced during this year’s legislative budget debate.
The $12 million has long been included in the state’s two-year budget, but Governor Tim Walz’s initial proposed budget in February included no money at all.
The Philando Castillo Memorial Training Fund honors the 32-year-old who was shot and killed by a St. Anthony Police Officer in 2016.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Valerie Castile, Philando’s mother. “It just seems like it was yesterday.”
Valerie has been instrumental in reforming public safety since then, and any cuts to the memorial fund would be unacceptable.
“You can’t diminish something that is so important to law enforcement and our community and it really does a disservice to both,” Valerie told me.
For the past seven years, the governor’s budget has included $6 million per year for the memorial fund. Its purpose is to reimburse police departments for state-mandated training in areas such as use of force, crisis response, conflict resolution, cultural diversity, and autism.
According to Executive Director Jeff Potts of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, 70% of police departments in the state have fewer than 20 officers. He claims that this is the only funding they receive for training.
“That’s significant,” Potts stated. “That’s devastating to the agencies across the state.”
He has since been lobbying at the Capitol and has long advocated for a change in law enforcement culture. Potts also warns that if this funding does not continue, police officers will not meet the legislature’s training requirements.
“We think the outcomes and ability to safely police their communities hinges on how well they’re trained and these dollars are vitally important to continue at the high quality training they’re getting right now,” according to Potts.
He claims Walz has since revised his budget and increased funding to $2 million, but it still falls short of what has previously been approved. The House and Senate, each with their own proposals, will also have to reach an agreement in committee meetings next week.
“Why would you create such a wonderful thing and slowly chip away at it until you have nothing,” Valerie asked you.
The Legislature must reach an agreement on a budget by May 19, the final day of session.