Walz wants immediate public safety funding to prepare for upcoming Floyd officer trials

Governor Tim Walz is asking lawmakers by one week from today (2/8) to approve necessary funds so public safety agencies can prepare for the upcoming trials of four officers accused in the death of George Floyd. In a letter to the four top legislative leaders, the governor says in light of unprecedented civil unrest after Floyd’s death, “it is imperative that we plan for every possible outcome of those trials now.” Walz says there’s currently no funding to reimburse law enforcement agencies for the cost of “mutual aid” they provide to other agencies during emergencies. The Governor wants lawmakers to replenish that special fund. Meanwhile, Republicans in the Senate want to block the Walz administration from using money in the state’s Disaster Contingency Fund — normally used for floods, tornadoes and the like — to help cities and counties recover from civil unrest.