Police Chiefs Warn of Eroding Public Trust
Bruley was joined by multiple law enforcement leaders who warned that the enforcement tactics risk undermining years of trust-building between police departments and the communities they serve.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt said the recent operations have triggered a surge in complaints from residents and raised questions about accountability among federal agencies operating locally.
“Trust is fragile,” Witt said. “Public safety depends on it, and right now that trust is being damaged by questionable actions from some federal agents.”
St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry echoed the concerns, calling for greater oversight of the thousands of federal agents currently deployed in the Twin Cities area.
Questions Over Oversight and Training
Local leaders questioned whether inconsistent training standards, agency coordination, and vetting procedures may be contributing to the reported encounters.
When asked to respond, a Border Patrol commander did not directly address the off-duty officer incident, stating only that federal agencies would continue their enforcement mission under existing immigration law.
Requests for comment from the Department of Homeland Security were still pending at the time of publication.
