In 2020, as Minneapolis faced riots following George Floyd’s death in police custody, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz emerged as a key figure in the discussions regarding policing and crime in the country.
Protests against the police rapidly expanded from Minneapolis throughout the nation. Walz faced criticism for his slow response in assisting the city’s police during the turmoil, delaying the deployment of the National Guard for several days. Ultimately, he later described the rise in crime as “unacceptable” and increased state help for the troubled city. Recently, Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee for president in 2024, selected Walz as her running mate.
Ohio Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee and Trump’s running mate, criticized Walz’s record from 2020, referring to his role in the Democratic ticket as “an interesting partnership.”
“If we remember the rioting in the summer of 2020, Tim Walz was the guy who allowed rioters to ravage Minneapolis,” he remarked, discussing the unrest triggered by Floyd’s death during an arrest. “Meanwhile, Kamala Harris was actively supporting the release of those arrested for their actions.”
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz arrives to address a press conference on August 1, 2024, in Bloomington. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The unrest following Floyd’s death ignited protests nationwide, along with ongoing issues regarding police morale and staffing that persist today. Walz has been denounced for allowing the situation to spiral by postponing the National Guard’s involvement.
Subsequently, the state engaged in the prosecution of Kim Potter, a White police officer charged in the death of a Black man. Earlier this year, Walz faced allegations of meddling in another unrelated police shooting case. However, he has not addressed crime issues on social media since April.
“Kamala is embracing her role as the candidate representing urban chaos,” stated Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector critical of left-leaning police and bail policies in Democratic-led cities. “With her existing agenda for defunding and bail reform, adding Walz further cements the Dems’ identity as the party supporting lawlessness and undermining police efforts for progressive goals. Regardless of opinions, she’s transparent about her stance.”
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A fire engulfs an auto parts store opposite the Minneapolis police Third Precinct station on May 27, 2020, amid protests over the death of George Floyd. (Carlos Gonzalez/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
Following Floyd’s death in Minnesota, violent protests erupted nationwide, yielding significant implications for police morale and staffing that continue to linger today. Critics have pointed fingers at Walz for the perceived inaction that allowed the unrest to escalate by delaying necessary support.
Additionally, Walz became involved in the prosecution of Kim Potter, a White officer linked to a Black man’s death. Earlier this year, he faced allegations of interfering in another unrelated police shooting case, though he has not addressed crime on social media since April.
“Kamala is fully embracing her position as the representative of urban chaos,” remarked Paul Mauro, a former NYPD inspector who has been vocal against liberal police and bail reforms in cities dominated by Democrats. “She already had defunding and bail reform on her agenda. Adding Walz strengthens the Democratic stance as the party advocating for chaos in the cities and critiquing law enforcement for progressive causes. Whether you approve or not, she’s being forthright about her position.”
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This chart shows crime statistics from 2019 to August 6, 2024, in Minneapolis, created using data from the Minneapolis Crime Dashboard. (City of Minneapolis Crime Dashboard)
The aftermath of Floyd’s death and the subsequent riots sparked nationwide discussions on “defunding” the police, increased scrutiny of policing practices, and placed harsher conditions on officers who still serve in some of the most progressive cities.
“Minneapolis was unquestionably the focal point of the 2020 anti-police movement,” remarked Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association. “The policies favored by Governor Walz are anti-police, favor criminal activity, and exhibit signs of Marxist tendencies.”
A looter attempts to break into a cash register at a Target store in Minneapolis on May 27, 2020, during the protests over George Floyd’s death. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
State crime figures reveal surges in crime during 2020 and 2021, before stabilizing in 2022. The Department of Public Safety has yet to release data for 2023 and subsequent years.
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In Minneapolis, more recent crime statistics indicate that homicides have decreased by over 80% year-to-date compared to 2023, although they nearly match the total for the full year of 2019. Meanwhile, motor vehicle thefts have consistently escalated, rising from about 3,000 in 2019 to a peak of 7,867 in 2023, with 3,929 reported so far in 2024.
Assaults and robberies experienced significant rises during 2020 and 2021 before returning to levels above those seen in 2019.
In August 2022, Walz described the upward trend in crime as “unacceptable” and announced state measures to help tackle the rising crime rates in the Twin Cities.
A significant fire blazes on East Lake Street in Minneapolis on May 28, 2020, during protests regarding the death of George Floyd. (David Joles/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
However, some statistics, particularly regarding shoplifting, may be misleading, according to Brantner Smith. She points out that while such offenses are trending upwards nationwide, reports have declined as frustrated victims feel powerless against repeat offenders.
Over the past four years, police morale has suffered greatly, with departments nationwide grappling to maintain experienced officers and boost recruitment.
Minneapolis has yet to recover from the turmoil, and Derek Chauvin, the former MPD officer found guilty of murder in Floyd’s death, faced a serious attack while hospitalized last year during a prison incident.
“The Minneapolis Police Department is still operating at about 40% below its necessary staffing levels, impacting surrounding areas, including the county, St. Paul, and even the suburbs,” Brantner Smith emphasized.
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Brantner Smith also mentioned the case of Kim Potter, a former Brooklyn Center officer who fatally shot felony suspect Daunte Wright during a routine traffic stop back in 2021.
An AutoZone store burns on May 28, 2020, amid ongoing protests regarding the death of George Floyd. (Mark Vancleave/Star Tribune via Getty Images)
At the moment of the incident, Wright was wanted in connection with a firearms case and had pending armed robbery charges. Potter’s bodycam footage revealed her yelling “Taser!” before drawing her weapon and shooting him.
“We need to move forward from the events of 2020, and we now possess much greater insight into not just Floyd’s death but also Kim Potter’s prosecution,” Brantner Smith stated. “It’s crucial to remember how Walz’s attorney general intervened and imprisoned her for a mistake that wasn’t criminal and was devoid of racist intent.”
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison assumed responsibility for the case from county officials and escalated the charges against Potter, who was ultimately convicted of manslaughter and served 16 months in prison.
During Minnesota’s confrontation with police involved in fatalities, Harris publicly appealed for contributions to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, an organization that helps post bail for those accused of crimes. As she encouraged supporters to contribute to aid protesters who were anti-police, the organization also assisted with bail for those detained on unrelated matters.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, center, is present at a memorial service for George Floyd on June 4, 2020, in Minneapolis. (KEREM YUCEL/AFP via Getty Images)
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One individual they helped was George Howard, a domestic violence suspect who, while released, allegedly shot and killed another man during a road rage incident.
A year later, they assisted Shawn Michael Tillman with bail, who subsequently shot a rival six times at a train station.
Requests for comments from Harris’ representatives went unanswered.
Fox News’ Max Bacall, Paul Steinhauser, and Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
