Maple Grove Police Chief Addresses ICE Enforcement and Recent Protest Arrests
Monday night, Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner addressed the City Council to provide clarity on the department’s role regarding federal immigration enforcement and to defend the police response to a recent protest that resulted in 26 arrests.
Chief Werner’s statement focused on a clear separation of duties between local and federal authorities, while emphasizing a commitment to community safety and constitutional rights.
Clarifying the Role of Local Police in Immigration
Addressing the heightened anxiety surrounding federal immigration activity in the Twin Cities metro, Werner emphasized that the legal authority for such enforcement rests solely with the federal government.
“Local, county, and state law enforcement are not responsible for immigration enforcement,” Werner stated, echoing a sentiment held by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA).
Werner noted that the MCPA and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) have been actively lobbying federal leaders, including meetings with White House border czar Tom Homan, to express concerns over public safety and community trust. The chief highlighted that local officers are often placed in “difficult positions,” facing criticism regardless of whether they assist federal operations or abstain.
To ensure accountability, Werner reported he maintains a direct line of communication with the ICE field office director and the Special Agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
“I have direct communication with the director of the ICE field office and the Special Agent in Charge of HSI to directly report any allegations of potential misconduct or inappropriate behavior,” Werner said. “Just this morning, I shared a comment and within minutes, I received a response back that the matter is being forwarded on and I believe that they are committed to accountability.”
Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner addressed the city council on Feb. 2, 2026.
SpringHill Suites Incident and LRAD Usage
Chief Werner also provided a detailed account of the Jan. 26 protest at SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Maple Grove. Following reports of “riotous behavior” at a Minneapolis hotel the previous night, which included incendiary devices used and property damage, Maple Grove police and several partner agencies prepared for a high-risk encounter.
“Our police department, supported by several agencies through a multi-jurisdictional response, implanted plans to allow for a safe protest while protecting the guests and property at SpringHill Suites, while people exercised their First Amendment rights,” Werner told the council.
The protest, however, was eventually declared an unlawful assembly, resulting in 26 arrests. According to Werner, participants criminally damaged a hotel sign with a shovel, threw objects at officers, and breached barrier tapes. No injuries were reported among the public or officers.
Addressing social media controversy regarding the use of a long-range acoustic device (LRAD), Werner clarified that the device was used strictly for communication, not as a weapon.
The LRAD was used in “amplifier mode,” acting as a powerful loudspeaker to ensure dispersal orders were heard over the noise of the crowd. Werner explicitly stated the device was not used in a “deterrent setting,” such as emitting high-pitched tonal noises to cause pain or physical dispersal. The device was operated by the Minnesota State Patrol, who have been trained in its use for 13 years.
“They use it basically as a loudspeaker,” Werner said. “They don’t use it for the other functions that have been reported widely in media or in social media.”
