[ST. PAUL, MN] – On the first day a new slate of Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board members meet, Governor Tim Walz wrote a /governor/assets/Gov%20Walz%20POST%20Board%20Letter_4.22.21_tcm1055-477247.pdfletter to the Board today calling on them to take immediate steps to increase trust and transparency in policing.

“Your work as members of the POST Board, a duly authorized and empowered professional licensing body, is critical to ensuring the law enforcement profession’s legitimacy and Minnesotans’ trust in their government,” Governor Walz wrote in his letter. “I ask you to rise to the moment by implementing bold and responsible proposals to heal divides in Minnesota.”

Proposals before the Board include a First Amendment standard that would establish a more uniform system for accountability for law enforcement’s response to demonstrations.

Governor Walz is also asking the POST Board to support a proposal banning peace officer involvement in extremist organizations, and to adopt more comprehensive complaint and discipline data collection.

In February, Governor Walz appointed seven new members to the POST Board, which is responsible for setting regulations and controlling the training and licensing of police officers in Minnesota. The diverse slate of appointees includes two new positions created by the Minnesota Police Accountability Act, which the Governor signed in July.