Maple Grove Police Provided Round-the-Clock Security After Lawmaker Attacks
Monday’s Maple Grove City Council meeting didn’t start in its typical fashion.
Mayor Mark Steffenson started the meeting with a moment of silence for Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, who were both murdered early Saturday, as well as for Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who both remain hospitalized with gunshot wounds after an attack at their home.
Sen. Warren Limmer and Rep. Kristin Robbins, both of Maple Grove, attended the meeting. They came to provide legislative updates, but shifted focus to thank police after the targeted attacks on lawmakers.
“We sometimes don’t realize things like that could happen to us,” said Limmer. “Sadly, we’re becoming … I hope we as a society are not becoming callous to these type of things. And unfortunately they seem to be on the rise.”
Limmer and Robbins stated that Maple Grove police provided round-the-clock security at their homes shortly after the lawmaker attacks started early Saturday.
“Not only was it a comfort to me and my family, but to all of our neighbors who were really worried about what’s going on,” said Robbins.
Another Maple Grove lawmaker, Rep. Kristin Bahner, was reportedly away on vacation when the assassin stopped by her home following the shootings at the Hoffmans’ home in Champlin. After Bahner’s home, the assassin went to the New Hope home of Sen. Ann Rest. The assassin left when New Hope police showed up. He then made his way to the Hortmans’ home in Brooklyn Park.
Limmer said he received a call from Maple Grove Police Chief Eric Werner at 3:46 a.m. Saturday that a police squad would be outside his home. Officers did shifts four to six hours at a time, said Limmer.

Sen. Warren Limmer thanked police at the June 16 Maple Grove City Council meeting.
The Maple Grove police security protections were provided for more than 40 hours until the assassin was captured. That suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, of Green Isle, Minn., is charged with six federal crimes, including stalking and murder.
“We are all united in grief and determination to condemn this political violence and to not let it continue,” said Robbins.
Link to related CCX News stories: Melissa Hortman Assassination Coverage