C-Notes: September 19, 2025
Executive Director Report
Legislative Updates
This week, legislators from both parties met at the Capitol to discuss proposals aimed at reducing gun violence. These conversations come in the wake of the Annunciation School shooting and the political assassination and threats against state legislators this summer.
The newly created Senate Gun Violence Prevention Working Group held its first meeting on September 15. The group is co-chaired by Sen. Ron Latz (DFL) and Sen. Zaynab Mohamed (DFL) and includes the following members: Sens. Liz Boldon, Mary Kunesh, Heather Gustafson, Bonnie Westlin (DFL), and Sens. Jeff Howe, Eric Lucero, Kari Heintzeman, Rich Draheim, and Andrew Mathews (R).
It is important to note that this working group is not an official action of the Minnesota Senate — it is not under statute, does not require quorum, and cannot take legislative action. Its purpose is to gather proposals, testimony, and input that may inform the upcoming 2026 Legislative Session.
Proposals and Testimony
A wide range of proposals were presented at the meeting, including:
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Proposal to ban possession of semiautomatic military-style assault weapons
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Local authority for cities to restrict firearms in government-owned or leased spaces
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Eliminating ghost guns by requiring serial numbers and establishing a BCA-managed system
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Creating a Civil Commitment Division in the Attorney General’s Office
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Mandatory firearms safety training prior to purchase and new record-keeping requirements
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Establishing a Gun Violence Prevention Office in the Department of Health
Testimony came from a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including parents from Annunciation School, trauma doctors and hospital staff, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of the Twin Cities, the Jewish Community Relations Council, advocacy groups such as Moms Demand Action, Everytown, the Brady Campaign, Protect Minnesota, and the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, as well as city leaders like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and St. Paul’s Office of Neighborhood Safety.
Several written statements were also submitted, including from the Minnesota Medical Association, NAMI Minnesota, and other organizations.
MCPA Legislative Committee
Separately, the MCPA Legislative Committee convened this week to begin developing our association’s 2026 Legislative Agenda. Two additional meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks to review proposals submitted by members, with the goal of publishing the Legislative Agenda by late October.
If you would like to participate in this process, please e-mail me at jeff@mnchiefs.org to be added to the committee.
Thank you,
Jeff Potts
Executive Director
Two Months Until the Fall Leadership Summit
The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association’s Fall Leadership Summit is just around the corner. It will take place November 18–20 at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd.
This 2.5-day event gives chiefs and command staff the opportunity to step away from daily demands, sharpen leadership skills, and connect with peers in a smaller, more focused setting. Sessions will highlight emerging issues in policing, leadership development, and practical strategies you can bring back to your agency.
Registration is $280 and includes all training sessions, materials, and group meals. Lodging must be reserved separately through Cragun’s.
Small Agency Scholarships Available for Fall Leadership Summit
Thanks to the support of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Foundation, scholarships are available to help small agencies with the cost of attending the 2025 Fall Leadership Summit at Cragun’s Resort.
This funding helps ensure that leaders from all departments, regardless of size, can participate in this new professional development opportunity. Agencies interested in applying can submit their scholarship request now.
Visit the Fall Leadership Summit Scholarship tab for more information and to access the application form. Applications are due by October 3.
Master's Degree Survey
The MCPA is exploring the development of an intensive leadership and management program designed to prepare experienced law enforcement professionals for senior command roles. The program would be similar to Northwestern’s Police Staff & Command School or the FBI Academy.
We are also exploring a partnership with a university, which could allow participants to transfer program credits toward earning a Master’s degree.
Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and help guide our research.
Minnesota Legislative Update: Walz for Governor and House Special Election Results
Walz for Governor, again
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced Tuesday morning that he will run for a third term. He has yet to share who his pick will be for lieutenant governor – current Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is seeking one of Minnesota’s U.S. Senate seats that will be open with the retirement of current U.S. Senator Tina Smith. Walz was first elected as Governor in 2018. If he wins in 2026, he will be the first person in Minnesota’s history to win three consecutive four-year terms as Governor. The 2026 gubernatorial race in Minnesota has had a few Republicans announce their candidacy: Kendall Qualls, current state Rep. Kristin Robbins, and 2022 GOP nominee for Governor, Scott Jensen. In 2022, Walz beat Jensen by more than seven percentage points.
Minnesota House of Representatives
Special Election – District 34B
Tuesday, Sept. 16 , also marked the special election for Minnesota House seat 34B, formally filled by Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in June. Democratic candidate Xp Lee earned more than 60 percent of the vote over Republican challenger Ruth Bittner. Lee comes to the MN House as a health equity analyst for the Minnesota Department of Health and a former member of the Brooklyn Park City Council. The results for this special election solidified the Minnesota House tie of 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans.
Minnesota Senate
Democratic Sen. Ann Rest announced yesterday that she will retire when her current term ends in 2026. Rest has served in the Minnesota Legislature for more than 40 years, representing the western areas of Minneapolis, the cities of Golden Valley, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Plymouth, and her hometown of New Hope. She is the only Minnesota legislator ever to chair the Taxes Committees in both the House and the Senate. In addition to leading the Taxes Committee, Senator Rest is Chair of the Legislative Audit Commission, Vice Chair of the Rules and Administration Committee, and serves on the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee.
Special Elections for Districts 29 and 47
The Minnesota Senate was controlled by Democrats by a one-vote margin, 34-33, in the 2025 Legislative Session. There are two special elections that will take place on Nov. 4, 2025, to fill the currently vacant seats.
SD 47 – In August, Democratic Sen. Nicole Mitchell was convicted of first-degree felony burglary, after which she resigned her seat. As a result, the Senate became tied, 33-33. Current MN House Rep. Hemmingsen-Jaeger won the Democratic endorsement and is the favored candidate to secure the DFL one-seat majority entering the 2026 legislative session. Republican Dwight Dorau is running for the second time for the seat after having lost to Mitchell in the 2024 Election.
SD 29 – Republican Sen. Bruce Anderson passed away unexpectedly in July of this year, resulting in the Senate returning to a temporary one-seat Democratic majority, 33-32. The district is west of Minneapolis and is a mostly rural and safely Republican district. Michael Holmstrom secured the GOP endorsement and will face off against Democratic candidate Louis McNutt. The Republicans will win this seat, and it is expected that Democrats will continue to control the Senate 34-33 going into the 2026 legislative session.
Special Session
In the wake of the multiple shootings this summer, Gov. Walz announced he would call a special session to pass gun control measures, including a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. There has yet to be a date set, and the latest update continues to be discussions between legislative leaders and the Governor on potential solutions. The Governor can call a special session, but the legislature decides when it will adjourn.
MPPOA Executive Director Search
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) is looking for its next Executive Director.
For more than 100 years, MPPOA has been the largest organization representing Minnesota’s law enforcement officers. With more than 10,000 licensed police officers and associate members, the MPPOA is the voice for law enforcement at the Capitol and in the media. The MPPOA provides strong advocacy and legal defense to protect officers when they need it most.
Interim Executive Director David Titus, who is not applying for the position, is available to answer questions about the role at dtitus@mppoa.com.
This is a rare and highly important opportunity to lead Minnesota’s premier law enforcement association. We encourage you to review the position profile and share it with others who may be qualified and interested.
New Resource on Suicide Prevention in Law Enforcement
Former MCPA conference presenter Mike Mirarchi has published an article in the International Association of of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) magazine focused on suicide prevention in law enforcement.
The piece was inspired by discussions at the United States Law Enforcement Foundation (USLEF) in Titusville, Florida, where concerns were raised about officers not seeking help due to stigma and peers hesitating to speak up because of the “code of silence.”
Mirarchi developed a guide highlighting warning signs that should never be ignored, suggested scripts for difficult conversations, and steps to take if someone reveals suicidal intent or is struggling themselves. The goal, shared with USLEF, is to help reduce suicides among officers.