Guest Opinion: A crime update from Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach – Wadena Pioneer Journal

Crime in Minneapolis is nothing new, but it is now spreading beyond metropolitan areas and harming our rural communities as well. This month, Jerome Skulzacek was tragically killed in Kandiyohi County when a criminal attempted to steal his car in front of authorities. This criminal led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, driving at speeds of 130 miles per hour and risking the lives of countless others in his path as he fled from Minneapolis to Willmar.

As I pray for Mr. Skulzacek's family, I reiterate my support for our law enforcement officers, both as a family of law enforcement officers and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

When my Republican colleagues and I wrote a letter to Governor Walz expressing our outrage at the mishandling of Trooper Londregan's trial, we were deeply concerned about the impact of punishing officers for their work. We feared that this would allow crime to go unchecked in Minneapolis and spill over into rural Minnesota. Unfortunately, this month's case proves that we were right to be concerned. It is critical that our law enforcement officers receive the support they need from both their communities and elected officials to carry out their duties. This support is lacking in Minneapolis, and as a result more officers are at risk while on duty and fewer officers are signing up to serve on the force. Had this not been the case, Minneapolis officials may have been able to stop this heinous criminal before he left the city and murdered an innocent man.

In Congress, Republicans recently passed the Keeping Violent Offenders Off Our Streets Act. This bill addresses the soft-on-crime agenda, failed bail reform, and defunding the policing movement that has taken hold in Minneapolis. After the riots in Minneapolis in 2020, Vice President Harris encouraged her supporters across the country to donate to the Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF), which provides indiscriminate bail for any type of offender, regardless of whether they were violent or not . Shortly after this campaign, the MFF raised almost $35 million. While the city of Minneapolis was still in ruins (including the Third Police Precinct building), the money was used to get some of those associated with these riots back on the streets. In the years that followed, the MFF used its resources to rescue several people who had committed murders and domestic violence while in prison. This legislation cracks down on organizations like the MFF, which provides get-out-of-jail-free cards to violent offenders. The bill also gives law enforcement the tools they need to prevent repeat offenders from endangering our communities.

People like Vice President Harris, those responsible for the unlawful prosecution of Trooper Londregan, and those in the defund the police movement incite distrust and even hatred of the police, which then leads people to feel emboldened to act according to this feeling. For this reason, we have unfortunately seen an increase in attacks on officers. Republicans in the House of Representatives are working to reverse this trend. I am a proud co-sponsor of the Protect and Serve Act, which makes it a federal crime for anyone to knowingly attack or cause bodily harm to a law enforcement employee.

Our communities rely on law enforcement to keep us safe, and I personally am deeply grateful for the work they do every day and the sacrifices they must make. I have said time and again that Congress has a responsibility to set an example of trust and respect for our law enforcement. Unfortunately, many of my colleagues have done the opposite for years. My Republican colleagues in the House are committed to defending those who defend our communities and ensuring they have the tools and support they need to carry out their duties.