St. Paul, Minnesota — House Speaker Melissa Hortman released the following statement on the verdict of the Kimberly Potter trial:
“This is a tragic and sad case. During a stop that didn't need to happen, in a confrontation that didn't need to happen, a woman who dedicated her life to public safety brought unimaginable pain to a family, ending the life of a 20-year-old. Jurors faced a difficult task to judge the case fairly, and we must respect their service in listening to the testimony, reviewing the exhibits, studying the jury instructions, and reaching a decision.
“Flawed public safety policies put Kim Potter and Daunte Wright into a situation that never should have occurred. Minor violations like air fresheners and expired tabs shouldn't form the basis for a stop for police officers bearing deadly weapons. Missing a court date doesn't have to lead to an in-custody arrest.
“I worked hard to include provisions in this year's public safety bill to change these flawed policies. We were successful in authorizing sign and release warrants for missed court dates which — if they had been part of state law before April 11, 2021 — could have prevented the tragic altercation that resulted in Potter taking Daunte Wright's life. To further reduce interactions that can lead to tragic and unnecessary deadly encounters, we must continue to work to end traffic stops for non-safety sensitive violations.
“Members of the community and law enforcement officers deserve to go home safely at the end of the day. We must continue our work to enact reforms to better ensure Minnesota has public safety policies that serve all of us.”