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Michels’ Corp’s Use of Police Resources In Minneapolis Called Into Question By Residents

Sep 22, 2022

Michels’ Corp’s Use of Police Resources In Minneapolis Called Into Question By Residents

MADISON, Wis. — While Tim Michels’ company is under fire for a history of harassment and abuse, Michels Corp. is also under scrutiny across the border in Minnesota for its use of police resources in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis residents are questioning Michels Corporation’s use of off-duty officers to guard their construction sites in a moment when the city is experiencing officer shortages. They are also wary of the use of taxpayer resources for the benefit of Michels Corp as the off-duty officers are allowed to use police resources while protecting Michels sites.

One would think a Republican candidate with concerns about crime would not support stretching police resources thin during an officer shortage.

On the campaign trail, Michels is not a stranger to empty promises about increasing resources for policing – saying that he plans to do so, but has not provided any clear path forward that amounts to more than talking points. And Michels is silent on his running mate’s consistent opposition as a state senator to Governor Evers’ efforts to increase funding to localities for police and other services.

By contrast, Governor Evers has invested over $100 million in law enforcement and public safety to tackle the root causes of crime and included increasing payments to local governments – which would support policing, in both the 2019 and 2021 budgets. In his next term, Governor Evers will continue to push to increase local government funding. The Governor has also directed funding to every single local and tribal law enforcement agency in Wisconsin, and given $10 million to fight violent crime in Milwaukee.

“Tim Michels’ lack of real plans for improving public safety, coupled with the hypocrisy of using police resources in other cities during a staffing shortage, is unfortunately pretty typical for Republicans,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Hannah Menchhoff. “It begs the question whether this is similarly happening at any Michels construction sites in Wisconsin and whether Tim Michels commits to allocating resources to fund local governments and police departments if elected.”

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