Back to Session!

Gov. Tim Walz needs to call the legislature back into session to change the law so School Resource Officers can return to our schools.

The 2023 legislature changed the law regarding use of force by school personnel. The new rules restrict an SRO from using any force at all in situations where the threat of “bodily harm or death” is unclear, leaving law enforcement officers operating as SROs in an unacceptable position.

Many police chiefs and sheriffs have responded to the vague new rules by removing SROs from our schools.

Send him a message — urge Gov. Tim Walz to call a special session to keep School Resource Officers in our schools!

The legislature needs to meet immediately in special session to provide clarity to the law so SROs can return to schools and do their job protecting students, teachers and other personnel. Only the Governor can call a special session.

Send an email to Gov. Walz using the form above and encourage him to call a special session.

Learn more — tune into our webinar Thursday, Sept. 14!

Join our webinar Thursday, September 14, at 12:00 pm to learn how these changes came about and what solutions can be brought forward to fix the law so SROs can return to our schools.

American Experiment’s Public Safety Policy Fellow David Zimmer will lead a discussion with law enforcement leaders and key legislators on how we got to this point and how the law can be fixed to move forward once a special session is called.

Click here to register for the webinar!

More resources:

Center of the American Experiment — As schools open, a legislative special session is needed to address ambiguity involving SROs

Star Tribune — Editorial: Clarify rules to get officers back in school