The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and authorities from several cities and police agencies within the county responded with a written statement following shocking, and seemingly uninformed, comments from a county commissioner this week regarding the responsibilities of the sheriff’s office.
On Tuesday, during a Hennepin County Board of Commissioner’s committee meeting that involved administration, operations and budget discussions, Democratic Commissioner Marion Greene launched into a statement which seemed to indicate she believes the sheriff’s office is acting outside of its mandated authority.
The discussion revolved around not only information that the sheriff’s office went over budget in 2025 and the board was asked to cover $11 million to close the books, but that the county overall is facing significant budget challenges this year and next in other areas.
Greene, whose district covers St. Louis Park and areas of downtown and southwest Minneapolis, briefly thanked Sheriff Dawanna Witt for her work, leadership and presence in the community before stating she plans to review state legislation that created Hennepin County and the sheriff’s office.
Greene, who is in her third elected term as commissioner, then said, “I know something that I’ve heard repeatedly over the last 12 years of service is that the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is not actually responsible for public safety on the streets. That is the responsibility of police departments.”
“My understanding of the mandate of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is to run the jail, safely transfer people from the jail to the court system, provide for public safety in very small communities in western Hennepin County that do not have the tax base to have their own police force, and provide public safety on bodies of water,” such as the river and Lake Minnetonka, Greene said.
Commissioner Heather Edelson interjected with a reading of the applicable statute, stating, “‘The sheriff shall keep and preserve the peace.’”
“That’s public safety,” Edelson said, and also listed other specified sheriff’s office duties, such as pursuing and apprehending felons, and executing court orders.
Greene retorted by saying she was reminded of a tour she took of the U.S. border and then scoffed at the notion that the border could be secured no matter how much money it was allocated. Greene then attempted to make a comparison to the sheriff’s office and said, “We’re not funding the sheriff to provide public safety for Hennepin County,” and went on to say, “I’m not willing to fund the sheriff to provide public safety for Hennepin County. I don’t think that can be something that office can take on and do well.”
Democrat Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene: "I'm not willing to fund the sheriff to provide public safety for Hennepin County. I don't think that that can be something that that office can take on and do well." pic.twitter.com/xTStiMjgHq
— Alpha News (@AlphaNews) March 25, 2026
The statements by Greene went virtually unreported by mainstream Twin Cities media Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.
On Thursday just after noon, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Facebook directly addressing Greene’s comments, accompanied by a letter signed by 42 Hennepin County mayors and police chiefs.
“Today, 42 Hennepin County Police Chiefs and Mayors sent a letter to the Hennepin County Board in response to comments by Commissioner Marion Greene. In a county board meeting on Tuesday, Greene said ‘We are not funding the sheriff to provide public safety for Hennepin County. And, I’ll reveal my cards, I’m not willing to fund the sheriff to provide public safety for Hennepin County.’ That statement contradicts long-standing practice, Minnesota state law, and the public safety realities in our Hennepin County communities,” the sheriff’s office said.
Hennepin County Sheriff responds to unhinged comments by Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Green this week saying she's not willing to fund the sheriff's office to do public safety.
"Today, 41 Hennepin County Police Chiefs and Mayors sent a letter to the Hennepin County Board… pic.twitter.com/DCYRkgnTDm
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) March 26, 2026
The letter, signed by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara, as well as the police chiefs of several cities, including Bloomington, Plymouth, Brooklyn Center, and Brooklyn Park, stated that public safety in the county is a shared responsibility and that the sheriff’s office is an indispensable part of that ecosystem.
The letter cited the fact that the sheriff’s office operates the 911 dispatch system for the majority of the cities in the county. The letter noted that several cities rely on the sheriff’s crime lab services and investigative support, as well as sheriff-led task forces.
The letter summarized the statutory responsibilities of the office and said that Greene’s comments were “not based in reality, tradition, or Minnesota law.”
The state’s Fraternal Order of Police also weighed and expressed deep concern over Greene’s comments.
The @MNFOP is deeply concerned by recent comments from @HennepinD3 . Her statement that she is “not willing to fund the Sheriff’s to provide public safety for Hennepin County” is troubling and inconsistent with Minnesota state law. @HennepinSheriff @SheriffWittHCSO #FOPStrong 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/eepppaccCc
— MN FOP (@MNFOP) March 26, 2026
The FOP statement reiterated much of the sheriff’s letter but also said the sheriff’s office acts as a “force multiplier” for local agencies and safety partners. Deputies respond to shootings, carjackings, crashes, domestic violence incidents and other emergencies, the statement read.
Late Thursday, local media outlets began reporting on the developments and also included a statement Greene reportedly released to the media.
“The county board, including me, has supported and will continue to support the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). Last year the County Board unanimously supported a 14% increase in property tax dollars for the HCSO budget,” Green said in the statement.
“My top priority is to allocate Hennepin County property taxpayer dollars responsibly while delivering critical services to county residents, including public safety services. On Tuesday, March 25th, the county board was asked to cover an $11 million budget overrun, in the 2025 public safety budget, which I voted to support,” she continued.
“With current budget constraints, it’s crucial that all parts of the county organization stay within budgets so that we can provide critical services without interruption. At times justified overruns happen, and in support of my commitments to county taxpayers and residents, I have to understand overspends regardless of budget or office.”
The statement from Greene did not address her potential misconceptions about the scope of the sheriff’s office’s statutory duties.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
