Maple Grove Police Testify in Support of a Bill Strengthening Domestic Violence Laws
Maple Grove Chief Eric Werner and Detective Katie Damm spoke in support of a bill authored by Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove) that would expand the list of domestic violence-related offenses to include kidnapping, false imprisonment, and others.
“I’ve worked with victims whose stories illustrate the problems this statutory loophole addresses,” said Damm. “One in particular was especially powerful for me. This victim was assaulted by her abuser in a reoccurring patter of violence and we were called to rescue her from her abuser as she put in very elaborate escape plans.”
Damm said in this particular case the abuser had a history of abuse and because second degree manslaughter was not included in a list of qualified offenses, police were unable to hold this particular abuser “accountable.”
“This victim and her young children lived in a constant state of fear. They were afraid to sleep in their own house at night for fear,” said Damm. “Our goal is to prevent domestic violence, protect victims and hold abusers accountable. This bill will be a very important part in keeping our community safer.”
Maple Grove Cases Held ‘Too Much Sadness and Pain’
Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove) authored HF 424, saying the cases she heard about in her community held “too much sadness and pain.”
She testified about the Biessel family who lost their sister, medical student Natalie to domestic violence and founded the nonprofit Love Conquers Violence. Bahner also mentioned Lissa Weimelt and Bill Pew, parents of Maria Pew and founders of Maria’s Voice, who lost their daughter to domestic violence in Maple Grove in 2020.
Members of Maple Grove Police Assoc. meet with Maria’s Voice in late 2022 to present them a check raised for their domestic violence work.
“It’s a simple bill,” explained Rep. Bahner to the House Public Safety Committee in a meeting on Jan. 24.
Bahner said that the 2008 bill added first and second degree murder to a list of qualified offenses, but first and second degree manslaughter failed to be included in the final bill.
“Today we seek to rectify that omission which as direct bearing on a case in my community–and adding three other serious domestic violence related offenses that are kidnapping, false imprisonment, and burglary with assault,” said Bahner.
The bill was laid over for further discussion. You can listen to the full discussion here.
