Minneapolis has spent $63,000 in the past three weeks for private security for city council members after they called to defund the city's police department after the death of George Floyd, a move Rep. Pete Stauber Monday called "hypocrisy at its best."
"City Council votes to abolish the police department and then hires taxpayer-funded private security to protect them," the Minnesota Republican said on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "What about the families and children in the city of Minneapolis that need that protection? And I think that Minneapolis, the business owners, and the citizens have some grave concerns of what is happening in the beautiful city of Minneapolis."
Fox News affiliate Fox 9 reported on the private security hired Sunday, noting that the threats were made against three council members who vocally called to defund the police department. On Friday, the city council unanimously approved Friday in a stop to establish a "holistic" method for public safety in a move called for after the death of George Floyd.
The Minneapolis Police Department commented that it didn't have any record of threats against the council members, but it is possible the record was filed confidentially.
Stauber, a former police officer, said he believes that communities should invest in their police departments' "best practices, transparency and accountability, and performance matters. That's what community policing does it. Builds trust between law enforcement and their community. And it starts with leadership at the top."
He commented that he had been shot twice, once off duty in 1995, and in another incident "where the criminal pulled a trigger while the gun was pointed at me and it malfunctioned, and I was literally fighting for my life."
He also commented on the rioting and looting that has taken place since the George Floyd killing.
"I think we are a nation of law and order," he said. "Our republic was established by laws. The lawlessness that is happening, the rioting, the disrespect for one another has to stop. Mob rule does not take over this country."
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