U.S. Rep. Phillips Invites Sheriff Witt to President’s State of the Union Address
When President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union message before a joint session of the United States Congress, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt will be taking it all in.
U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips invited Witt to be his guest for the annual address held inside the House chamber.
During a press briefing Monday, Phillips explained his guest selection.
“In my estimation, she’s among the most extraordinary law enforcement leaders in the nation,” said Phillips.
When she was elected last fall, Witt became the first Black sheriff to lead Hennepin County. Featured recently on NBC’s “Today Show,” Witt said her path into law enforcement was an unlikely one. As she grew up in south Minneapolis, Witt said she had a distrust for police.
Then one day she took a tour of the Hennepin County jail. She recalls what someone at the jail told her.
“We need more women, specifically women of color,” said Witt.
Witt went on to become a jail detention officer, eventually put in charge of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office court security and adult detention divisions.
“It wasn’t an accident. It was my purpose,” said Witt, reflecting back on her career.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt taking oath
‘We have to talk’
Now as sheriff, Witt says part of her work is to tell the story of law enforcement. Her goal is not only to recruit, but retain good officers and deputies.
“We have to talk about the good work that’s being done,” said Witt. “People are pretty focused on the negative. The fact of the matter is there are a lot more good women and men that are doing the work.”
Rep. Phillips hopes to accomplish some of the recruitment by reintroducing his “Pathways to Policing” bill, which aims to boost recruitment of law enforcement officers across the country. The bill has had bipartisan support.
“Public safety’s been politicized. On one end it’s all about public safety and on the other end it’s all about the justice relative to public safety. As a country, I think we’ve got to find that intersection between both,” said Phillips.
To address the officer shortage, President Biden has also called on Congress to appropriate $10.9 billion in mandatory funding over five years for the COPS Hiring Program.
Phillips and Witt both encourage the public to either tour the county jail, experience a police ride-along, or attend a citizens’ police academy.
“It has made a massive impact on me just to spend a few hours in a car with someone who takes on that risk every single day,” said Phillips, speaking about ride-alongs he has done with deputies and officers in his district. “Most of what I’ve seen is extraordinarily compassionate, empathetic, helping people through a variety of horrifying circumstances and situations.”
Also See: Golden Valley Looks to Hire Police from Other Cities to Fill Staffing Needs
Brooklyn Park | Maple Grove | Osseo | Plymouth | Twin Cities | Wayzata
