Minneapolis is back-tracking on defunding their police department, decided after the tragic killing of George Floyd by local law enforcement.
The U-turn came after citizens rose and protested soaring violent crime rates and slow response times.
The city council voted unanimously to approve $6.4 million in additional funding that police had requested.
The Star Tribune reported the department has only had 638 officers available to work — roughly 200 fewer than usual. Many officers quit or went on medical leave after Floyd’s May 25 death and the rioting that followed.
Three council members have proposed replacing the police department with a public safety department to include law enforcement and other services.
Other US cities – including Seattle and Portland – have also defunded their police departments with soaring murder rates and other violent crimes.
The May murder of Floyd sparked massive rioting and protests across the US. The officers involved have all been charged with homicide and are awaiting trial.
He died after officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck for over eight minutes.
He was allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store.
Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard
Dave Naylor is News Editor & Calgary Bureau Chief of the Western Standard based in the Calgary Headquarters. He served as City Editor of the Calgary Sun & covered Alberta news for nearly 40 years.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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