Rep. Pelowski Calls for Free Tuition for Law Enforcement Training

Rep. Gene Pelowski

(KWNO)-Republicans and Democrats in the Minnesota legislature have introduced proposals meant to stymie the state’s violent crime wave.  

The parties differ on how to address crime. Democrats want funding to go towards initiatives they say will prevent crime while Republicans are calling for more police officers and tougher penalties on violent offenders.  

Winona DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski offered a plan he believes would get more people into law enforcement. 

“What I’d like to see, at least as a starter, would be to have free tuition for law enforcement. Anybody in law enforcement,” Pelowski said on KWNO’s In the Know Thursday.  

Pelowski also called for the free tuition to extend to re-training that officers go through at the state’s two-year colleges. Pelowski says Minnesota’s nearly $8 billion budget surplus allows the state to cover tuition costs.  

Pelowski says there are not enough people in law enforcement. 

“We are in desperate need of law enforcement and I think this would be a way to keep people in law enforcement and also to encourage people to go into law enforcement,” Pelowski said.  

The 2022 legislative session begins on Monday.