List: Minnesota law enforcement agencies that are pulling SROs out of schools

(FOX 9) - As Minnesota law enforcement agencies grapple with a new law that restricts the use of force, some are pulling their school resource officers (SROs) out of schools, while others are keeping them in place.

The amendments, which were passed by the Minnesota Legislature this session, do not allow school employees or resource officers to put a student in certain physical holds, including the prone position. Law enforcement agencies have said the new changes cause significant concerns and could limit how peace officers can do their jobs if a situation at school becomes unsafe. 

As a result, some agencies have announced they will be pulling their SROs out of schools, while others are keeping them in place. 

Here is a rundown of the law enforcement agencies that have announced changes to their SRO programs.

Agencies dropping SROs

• Alexandria Police Department: Suspending the program, but introducing a pilot program with two officers designated for schools. They won’t have a set schedule or be assigned to a certain school, and the program is funded by the department’s budget. To learn more, click here.
• Anoka County Sheriff's Office: Removing SROs from Andover High School and Oak View Middle School. To learn more, click here.
• Anoka Police Department: Removing SROs from Anoka High School and Anoka Middle School for the Arts. To learn more, click here.
• Blaine Police Department: Removing SROs. Additional officers working patrol will be dedicated to responding to calls from the school districts, and periodically walk through the school. To learn more, click here.
• Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office: Announced on Sept. 25, that it would reinstate its SRO program.
• Brooklyn Park Police Department: The department initially said it would keep its officers in schools. However, in a Sept. 14 announcement, they reversed course, suspending the SRO program. To learn more, click here.
• Champlin Police Department: Removing SROs. The Jackson Middle School and Champlin Brooklyn Park Academy will not have SROs for the 2023-24 school year. To learn more, click here.
• Clay County Sheriff’s Office: Suspending the program. Patrol deputies will be stopping in the schools throughout the day to ensure student and staff safety. To learn more, click here.
• Coon Rapids police: Removing SROs. Police will not be inside Anoka-Hennepin schools, but will be present at school events at the department's expense and have a response plan in place. To learn more, click here.
• Eagan Police Department: UPDATE: On Sept. 28, Eagan PD announced it would reinstate its SRO program.
• Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office: Removing SROs. The sheriff’s office is removing the SRO at Rockford High School. To learn more, click here.
• Maple Grove Police Department: Suspending the program until the "law is changed." Current SROs are being placed on patrol duty, but the department will work to provide safety and security to the schools. To learn more, click here.
• Moorhead Police Department: Suspending the program. The current SROs are being placed on patrol duty. To learn more, click here.
• New Hope Police Department: Suspending the program. Initially started the year with SROs but decided to pull them from Robbinsdale School District and Cooper High School. To learn more, click here.
• Plymouth Police Department: Suspending the program. Current SROs are being placed on patrol duty, but the department will continue to work with the Wayzata and Robbinsdale school districts for safety and security services. To learn more, click here.
• Wayzata Police Department: Suspending the program. There will not be an SRO at Wayzata West Middle School for the 2023-24 school year. To learn more, click here.
• White Bear Lake Police Department: Suspending the program. Police officers will respond to school district related calls, conduct regular walkthroughs, and have a presence at football games. To learn more, click here.
• Willmar Police Department: Terminating the program. SROs are remaining in schools, but the city terminated the program to allow full law enforcement authority. To learn more, click here.

Agencies keeping SROs

• Duluth Police Department: While the police department has not officially put out a statement about keeping SROs, they’ve been introducing the officers on social media who are a part of the program.
• Faribault Police Department: Keeping SROs for the "foreseeable future." But, officers will limit their duties to public safety and general community-building until an agreement is in place. To learn more, click here.
• Hermantown Police Department: Keeping SROs in schools. To learn more, click here.
• Lakeville Police Department: Keeping SROs in Lakeville Area Schools. To learn more, click here.
• Minnetonka Police Department: Keeping SROs at Minnetonka High School. To learn more, click here.
• Mounds View Police Department: Initially removed SROs at Edgewood Middle School, Pinewood Elementary School and the Mounds View Bridges Program. But has since reinstated the program. To learn more, click here. 
• Rogers Police Department: Keeping SROs citing in part "the risks of removing the SROs may potentially put staff and students at higher risk." To learn more, click here.

On Wednesday, Minnesota House and Senate Republicans requested Governor Walz to convene a special session to address concerns surrounding the state's new school resource officers (SRO) law. But Walz said earlier this month lawmakers are misinterpreting the law and that school resource officers can use reasonable force whenever needed.

"There are exceptions for students' health, risk to them, risk to the police. So it is not being interpreted correctly; they certainly have the ability to do that," he said.

The governor has not said whether there will be a special session to address law enforcement concerns. 

This list may change as more law enforcement agencies make announcements about their SRO programs.