SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken pushed back against calls to cut police budgets in a tweet Tuesday night.
“As we move forward in Sioux Falls with strategies to ensure we remain a safe and equitable city, the dialogue of “defunding the police” will not be part of our conversation,” TenHaken said. “Our administration is working toward realistic solutions with lasting impact, not political puffery.”
Update:In a follow-up tweet roughly 90 minutes later, TenHaken wrote, “Well funded PDs = better/more training, better technology and resources, stronger school resource programs, stronger recruitment, etc. We must continue to explore realistic ideas that create reform AND don’t sacrifice public safety.”
A majority of the Minneapolis City Council announced they intended to dismantle the city’s police department Sunday. Protesters in the city and across the country have called on elected officials to “defund the police” and invest more money in social services. Many Democrats in Congress have been reluctant to express support for the proposal.
