♪ >> MARY: NEXT WEEK, A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL HONOR THE LIFE OF ANOTHER FALLEN OFFICER IN MINNESOTA.

THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED NEW FUNDING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OFFICERS.

IN THE PLACE WHERE THE RECKONING BEGAN, THE RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE PEOPLE IN POWER IS CHANGING.

HERE'S SOME CONTEXT.

>> NOTED STEP FORWARD.

>> Mary: A STEP FORWARD ON A CEREMONIAL BILL SIGNING ON GUN VIOLENCE STANDING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> IT IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT BILL.

>> Mary: DFL LAWMAKERS ARE INCREASINGLY SEEN ON THE SIDE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, SOMETHING THE HAIR OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE CELEBRATES.

>> DEMOCRATS, POLITICIANS STANDING SIDE BY SIDE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHAT DOES THAT SIGNAL?

>> IT SIGNALS SO MUCH OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE AND REALLY THE ONGOING WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING TO SUPPORT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

>> Mary: WHAT ABOUT CRITICS OUT THERE SAY DEMOCRATS WANT TO EFUND THE POLICE?

>> THEY ARE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE THAT SAID THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE BODY OF WORK THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

AGAIN, WE HAD $300 MILLION IN PUBLIC SAFETY AID THROUGH THE TAX BILL LAST EAR.

WE'VE HAD MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> Mary: ELECTED OFFICIALS SEEM MORE EAGER TO APPEAR WITH OFFICERS IN UNIFORM AFTER THE DIFFICULT JOURNEY FOLLOWING THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

>> WE CAN CHERISH GOOD POLICING AND KNOW THAT GOOD POLICING AND IS CRITICAL AND SACRED FOR OUR COMMUNITIES WHILE, AND ACTUALLY REQUIRING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRR.

>> I THINK IT HAS BEEN A RECKONING THAT THE COUNTRY HAS HAD.

I THINK MINNESOTA HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT AT THE CENTER OF IT.

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AND THANK, WHEN YOU SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDING HERE, ASKING US TO DO THINGS TO MAKE THEIR JOB SAFER.

>> Mary: THE BILL INCREASES PENALTIES FOR STRAW PURCHASES OF GUNS AND HIGH CAPACITY ADDITIONS.

>> THIS IS A COMMON SENSE LAW.

WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE IT.

>> THIS BILL BEING SIGNED IS TRULY AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> Mary: THIS AS THE SHOOTING DEATH OF ANOTHER FIRST RESPONDER IS HITTING HARD.

>> OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GRIEVE AND WALK THE ARDUOUS PATH OF HEALING.

THIS PAST WEEK WE LOST ANOTHER REMARKABLE HERO.

>> LAST WEEK, OUR WHOLE STATE WAS THRUST INTO MOURNING.

>> Mary: AFTER TWO REALLY TRAGIC LOSSES, A NOTICE VISIBLE INCREASE IN SUPPORT.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> I THINK THAT IS FAIR AND IT IS REALLY TRAGIC AND HORRIBLE AND OUR HEARTS JUST BREAK FOR THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, THEIR LOVED ONES, AND THEN ALL OF THE OTHER FIRST ESPONDERS WHO ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES IN THE LINE OF DAY WITH EACH CALL THEY HAVE.

>> Mary: CHAIR MOLLER IS A HENNEPIN COUNTY PROSECUTOR SO SHE CAN'T COMMENT ABOUT THE COUNTY ATTORNEY DROPPING CHARGES AGAINST THE TROOP YER.

>> BASED ON THAT NEW EVIDENCE, WE WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SUCCEED AT TRIAL.

>> WAS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO TAKE THE CASE ROM YOU?

>> Mary: SOURCES SAID GOVERNOR WALZ WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TAKING THE TROOPER CASE AWAY FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND REASSIGNING IT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AS POLITICAL PRESSURE WAS MOUNTING.

>> THE COUNTY ATTORNEY GOT TO THE RIGHT ECISION.

>> Mary: GOVERNOR, HOW CLOSE WERE YOU TO TAKING THE CASE?

>> AT SOME POINT, HAD THIS DECISION NOT BEEN MADE, THAT, YES, WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.

I ALSO SAY THAT THEY DON'T TAKE IT LIGHTLY.

I THINK THAT IS THE WRONG -- IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY BUT THERE IS A SAFETY NET IN THERE TO ALLOW AN EGREGIOUS SITUATION LIKE THIS TO BE CORRECTED AND, YES, WE WOULD HAVE USED THAT.

>> Mary: THE STATE PATROL IS OVERSEEN BY OUR GOVERNOR.

OUR GOVERNOR WHO'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN INSERTING HIMSELF INTO THIS CASE.

>> Mary: THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ALSO A DEMOCRAT WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNOR WHO'S THE HEAD OF THE STATE PATROL AND ITS TROOPERS.

>> WHY IS IT APPROPRIATE FOR A GOVERNOR WHO HAS NEVER PICKED UP THE PHONE TO DAHL ME, WHO IS NOT A LAWYER, WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF THIS CASE TO TALK ABOUT IT PUBLICLY?

TO CENTER MR. LONDREGAN AS BEING THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE?

WHY HAS THAT BEEN APPROPRIATE?

WHY HASN'T THAT BEEN CALLED OUT?

>> BECAUSE IT'S MY RESPONDENT ON THAT CHECKS AND BALANCE.

THAT AUTHORITY IS GIVEN TO US BY STATE LAW TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE THINGS.

>> HAVING THE GOVERNOR WEIGH IN AND QUESTION OUR STAFF'S INTEGRITY, NOBODY WANTS TO BE THE SUBJECT OF THAT.

>> Mary: THE SAME DAY THE GOVERNOR CEREMONIOUSLY SIGNED A BILL ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY CRITICIZED POLICY LEADERS FOLLOWING THE MINNEAPOLIS OFFICER'S DEATH.

>> ONCE AGAIN, WE EAR POLITICIANS TALK OF HEROIC FIRST RESPONDERS AND STERNLY TELL US THAT HIS UST NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> BUT WE KNOW IT WILL.

WE KNOW IT WILL BECAUSE IT HAS.

AND WE HAVE DONE VERY LITTLE TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC ISSUE