News & Events

Stauber Leads Push to Pass Police Reform This Year

WASHINGTON, DC — With protests across the country helping to fuel a debate over ways in which America’s law enforcement system can be reformed, The Ripon Society hosted a virtual discussion on July 16 with a Congressman and former police officer who is spearheading an effort on Capitol Hill to do just that.

The Congressman is Pete Stauber (MN-8). Serving his first term in the House of Representatives, Stauber spent two decades as a law enforcement officer in the Duluth Police Department before his election in 2018. Because of this experience, he was tapped earlier this year by Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to lead the House GOP effort on police reform.

Stauber opened his remarks on Thursday by talking about the importance of these efforts, and his work with South Carolina Senator Tim Scott to pass the JUSTICE Act, a plan the two have authored which is intended to help rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve by enacting reforms that create transparency and accountability within police departments nationwide.

“He comes at it as a black man growing up in the South,” Stauber said of his Senate colleague and fellow Republican. “I come at it as a law enforcement officer of 23 years in the state of Minnesota. I think it’s a really good piece of legislation that can actually get signed into law. It is bipartisan. In fact, about 85% of what’s in the JUSTICE Act are things on which my colleagues and I on the other side of the aisle agree. The concern I have is that when Senator Scott brought the JUSTICE Act to the floor — just for a vote to get it up for discussion — it was voted down. At a time when our communities are calling for change, we have to respond.”

“I was really concerned that my two U.S. Senators, Klobuchar and Smith, voted against even bringing it to the floor for discussion. This reform is needed. On the House side, they brought up a piece of legislation that was purely partisan. I asked to be a part of the drafting of that legislation, because I think I can

Congressman Stauber is pictured below with former Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay at a White House event on police reform in June.

bring my experience and knowledge disagreement — no-knock warrants house. When you execute a no-knock to some parts of that arena that — and how his experience as a police search warrant in the best professional some folks might not have. Not officer helped to shape his views on manner, using best practices, you are that I’m an expert by any stretch of the subject today. using everything at your disposal. I the imagination. But I think I have “If you look at the Breonna Taylor knew on my search warrants that we something to offer.” incident, it was a tragedy from start to went in as a team, I knew exactly

According to Stauber, this finish,” he stated bluntly. “There was a where I needed to go. includes an understanding of what life lost. I was a member of the Duluth “Senator Scott and I talked about works — and what does not work — Police Department’s tactical response this. Let’s study it. Let’s look at every when it comes to America’s police team for eight years. I was an entry department that does no-knocks. Enter departments and the communities team member. It’s not fun being on the that data. And I think in time, we’ll that they have pledged to serve. tactical response team, because when see that when you do them right, the

“Twenty three years ago,” Stauber you were called it meant there was a outcome is good.” noted, “President Bill Clinton brought high probability that you were about Stauber concluded his remarks by the COPS program to the nation. to go into a situation where there were returning to a point he made earlier And it was a very good program. bad people who were probably going — namely, that Republicans and Community policing is a philosophy to shoot.” Democrats agree on 85% of the issues that you don’t police your community, “I’ve been in no-knock search involved, and the American people you police with your community. warrant situations. I have had instances want to see Congress take action on It builds trust and lasting the issue this year. relationships. I cut my teeth “If we have to put things in community policing as a into a commission to study, young patrol officer. I spent “At a time when our I’m all for that,” he said of eight years as a community communities are calling for the differences that remain. “I officer in the city of Duluth — which has the third largest change, we have to respond.” think it can be a win-win. This country is demanding it. Our police department in the state Pete Stauber communities are demanding of Minnesota — with much it. And I will say this — success. It was a lot of hard nobody dislikes a bad officer work. But the trust that I built more than a good officer. In with the community that I served, where I got to the subject laying on the the profession of police work, a bad those bonds are still strong today couch who was reaching for a handgun officer sticks out like a sore thumb. We because of what we did together. as I entered the room. The handgun can’t have that.

“The JUSTICE Act puts was lying on the floor, and I happened “It is a profession that needs to community policing front and center in to step on his hand before he got to be honored and supported throughout many respects. The last time Congress the weapon. That’s what a no-knock our communities, because there are appropriated money for community will do. Keep in mind, these folks that some cases that officers go on that we policing was in 2008. So under the you are about to enter and arrest for never forget in our life. It’s a noble Obama-Biden Administration and the their crimes, they’re probably going to profession. The men and women in the first three and a half years of the Trump go to jail for a long time. If you give brown and blue across this nation help Administration, not one dime has been them the chance to go out with a bang, keep us safe.” put forth towards community policing. literally, they will try it.” The Ripon Society is a public The JUSTICE Act not only changes “In the JUSTICE Act, both policy organization that was founded that, but it brings in the transparency, Senator Scott and I agree, let’s review in 1962 and takes its name from the accountability, and performance no-knocks and see how we can make town where the Republican Party was measures that are so critical to them better and safer. For instance, born in 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. serving our communities. There are a maybe having two judges sign off and One of the main goals of The Ripon couple of major differences between having two police commanders sign Society is to promote the ideas and the JUSTICE Act and the piece of off on those warrants. And make sure principles that have made America legislation that the Speaker brought to the confidential, reliable informants great and contributed to the GOP’s the House floor. But I think we can get that you spoke to about the particular success. These ideas include keeping over those, because we agree on 85% residence are accurate and truthful our nation secure, keeping taxes low of the issues.” to the best of your ability. Make sure and having a federal government

Stauber talked about one of that you use the technology that’s that is smaller, smarter and more the issues where there remained there so you don’t go to the wrong accountable to the people. RF