They beat us down
Sheriff slams DFL leadership following Burnsville shooting
(PHOTO)
Sheriff Scott Knudson said he was speaking out because he knows “so many law enforcement officers in Minnesota feel this way but they can’t say it.” St. Croix County Sheriff/Facebook
By Hayley Feland, Alpha News
The St. Croix County sheriff blasted Minnesota’s elected leaders in the wake of the shooting of three Burnsville first responders.
“This is a devastating loss. This is going to be a loss felt for years, if not into the next generation for many of these children that are impacted as well,” said Sheriff Scott Knudson in a video posted to Facebook.
Burnsville officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic abuse call Feb. 18.
“The other emotion that these tragedies usually bubble up is a sense of disappointment and probably a little bit of anger towards some of the politicians,” said Knudson, a Wisconsin sheriff whose county borders Minnesota and who has a mutual aid agreement with Washington County. His employees often travel across the river to help out.
Knudson referenced Gov. Tim Walz’s appearance at a press conference following the shooting, which he described as “disingenuous” and a “photo op.”
“Over the last four years, a number of politicians have pushed us back into the corner, have knocked us down, have made statements that are not true, have come to conclusions before any of the evidence has been shown.”
Knudson said he believes Walz has painted a negative picture of law enforcement as being “racist” and “killers” following “critical incidents” in the state.
One of Knudson’s officers, Deputy Kaitie Leising, was shot and killed by a drunk driver last May. Knudson said he was speaking out because he knows “so many law enforcement officers in Minnesota feel this way, but they can’t say it.”
“They are in a very unique position of being pushed down by a number of politicians, who come out to say ‘Gee, our condolences,’ and then the rest of the time they beat us down,” he commented.
Sheriff Knudson said people don’t want to enter the profession when “they get no support from their governor” and have a “fear that their attorney general will prosecute,” referring to Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
He also criticized the “dangerous” Hennepin County attorney, Mary Moriarty, because she appears to have a “criminals’ rights first, victims’ rights last” mindset.
“Thanks, but no thanks. My first thought is, ‘Well who wrote that for you?’” Knudson added, responding to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s reaction to the shooting. “Because you’re also one who wanted to dismantle and destroy the police departments. You made that very clear.”
A fundraiser has also been started to support the families of the fallen Burnsville first responders.