Joe Gamaldi, the national vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, joined Liz Collin on her podcast to talk about policing in Minneapolis.
WATCH:
Somali gang problem captured on camera from the 4th of July
This past weekend marked yet another violent Fourth of July in Minneapolis. Dozens of car windows were smashed, there was a homicide, and several people were injured by gunfire—with some of it caught on camera.
Despite the danger to the public, many local leaders seem unwilling to publicly acknowledge that there is a Somali gang problem in the city.
Gamaldi, however, had a lot to say about policing and crime in Minneapolis.
“I think Mayor [Jacob] Frey likes to talk tough with everyone, but I think we all know he is completely spineless,” Gamaldi said.
“Because these gangs know that even if they are arrested, they’re just gonna be let right back out over and over and over again,” he said.
Gamaldi pointed out who is really getting harmed by all of this: “the law-abiding, hardworking members of the community.”
“You know, it’s funny because you’ll see politicians who, I will remind you, sit their asses safely behind their desks and say we need to defund and dismantle the police department. But it’s not them who has to deal with the consequences,” he added.
Gamaldi explained how “defund the police” ideology shares much of the blame for the rise in violence.
“When we went down this failed social experiment back in 2020 and 2021, you saw 16 American cities experience their highest murder rate in recorded history. Innocent civilians paid with their blood,” he said.
Gamaldi spoke clearly about the hypocrisy of the “defund the police” movement: “You know who got it the worst? It was black males who averaged a homicide rate of 12 times that of any other race. Yet we still had these lunatics pushing defund the police.”
“It is very clear that they are willing to put their failed ideology over the safety of their community members, and it’s sickening,” he added.
On MPD manpower
Mayor Frey was recently ordered to increase the number of officers within the Minneapolis Police Department—or face trial.
Meanwhile, some of the city’s staffing numbers do not seem accurate. Dozens of recruits—in training—have apparently been counted in the total number of officers.
Only on Crime Watch: These Minneapolis police staffing numbers forwarded from a source were reportedly put out by the police federation/union (POFM) following inquiries into what they implied are inflated staffing numbers (by officials & media).
604 sworn (26 appointed; 42 LTs;… pic.twitter.com/pyeaPT1DnI
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 27, 2026
MPD officers have told Alpha News that patrol staffing is somewhere between half and three-quarters below minimum. They said that the city is becoming more like one giant precinct due to the limited number of officers available.
“There are still brave men and women of that department who are putting their uniform on every single day, willing to sacrifice their lives for the community. But the politicians and leadership of Minneapolis have failed them. That department is nearly half the size it was just about a decade ago,” Gamaldi said.
Mayor Frey, however, recently touted a statistic about the increase in the number of people who applied to be a police officer. He also touted claims of increased diversity.
150 new officers since 2025.
Applications up more than 200% since 2023.
The most diverse police force in City history. pic.twitter.com/4RZzWhnG3g— Mayor Jacob Frey (@MayorFrey) July 8, 2026
Gamaldi, in stark contrast, explained how a lack of morale remains a critical issue.
“I mean honestly, if you ask any person with half a brain, do you want to be a police officer in Minneapolis anymore? They’re gonna tell you ‘no’ because they know they will be thrown under the bus at the first opportunity,” Gamaldi said.
He explained that MPD officers “don’t have the backing of their mayor, they don’t have the backing of their city council, they certainly don’t have the backing of their chief who’s just left in disgrace.”
Losing mounted patrol next?
Gamaldi also talked about how budgets and priorities are adversely affecting policing—and how politicians don’t seem to understand what’s necessary for effective public safety.
As just one example, Gamaldi spoke with Collin about how the Minnesota FOP is leading the “Hands off our Horses” campaign and fighting to keep the Minneapolis Mounted Patrol—the last in the entire state of Minnesota.
HANDS OFF OUR HORSES! 🐎
The Minneapolis Mounted Patrol is the last one left in the entire state of Minnesota — and the City Council just tried to kill it again.
Just a few months ago, during the 2026 budget process, the Council stripped funding for the Mounted Patrol. Once… pic.twitter.com/HwUUX9HFQl
— MN FOP (@MNFOP) May 26, 2026
“I think what you’re really signaling to the community is we don’t care about our police officers and we don’t care about your safety,” Gamaldi said.
“We already know that defunding the police doesn’t work, that it leads to crime being increased, that it leads to citizens not being satisfied with the services that are being provided,” he continued.
Gamaldi also questioned what politicians are doing—or not doing: “If you know that all of these things are a failure and it’s going to harm your community, why would you still continue to push these policies? I mean, it’s complete insanity.”
“What we really need is for the community … you have to speak up and let these politicians know that you will not accept this crap in your community,” he said.
“Because ultimately what’s going to happen is the violence is only going to get worse … That’s the reality when you listen to this insanity of defund the police.”
Liz Collin
Liz Collin is a multi-Emmy-Award-winning investigative reporter, news anchor, and producer who cares about Minnesota. She is the producer of The Fall of Minneapolis and Minnesota v We the People documentary films, and author of the Amazon best-selling book, They’re Lying: The Media, the Left, and The Death of George Floyd. Her work has prompted important state laws. Yet perhaps most of all, Liz has been giving a voice to the truth—and helping others tell their stories—for more than 20 years.
Dr. JC Chaix
Dr. JC Chaix is an editor, educator, and an expert in media studies. He wrote and directed the Alpha News documentary "The Fall of Minneapolis" and "Minnesota v We the People."
