The Ohio State Highway Patrol sent 100 troopers to Minneapolis on Monday to assist with protests and potential unrest following the conclusion of the Derek Chauvin trial.
Troopers will "be present to keep people safe and protect property," patrol spokesman Lt. Sgt. Craig Cvetan said. Cvetan did not disclose how long troopers will be deployed, citing security concerns. But the cost will be reimbursed by Minnesota.
"Our goal is the same as it is here, to work with our law enforcement partners to keep people safe, to protect property and still allow everyone to exercise their constitutional rights safely," Cvetan said. "Ohio troopers are always prepared to respond to incidents in the interest of public safety, whether it’s here in Ohio or when requested by another state."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz requested the extra enforcement after a week of demonstrations in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center to protest the death of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop.
Meanwhile, the murder trial of Chauvin, the former police officer charged in the 2020 death of George Floyd, wrapped up Monday in Minneapolis. Jury deliberations began Monday evening, and local officials urged the community to respond peacefully regardless of the verdict.
Minnesota lawmakers approved $2.8 million in emergency funding to pay for law enforcement assistance from Ohio and other states, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The Ohio troopers are joined initially by 28 from the Nebraska Highway Patrol.
"Our hope is that we don't need them at all," Minnesota State Patrol Col. Matt Langer said during a news conference Monday.
Cvetan said the patrol considered concerns about responding to potential demonstrations in Ohio before deploying troopers. The patrol has more than 1,500 troopers statewide.
“We are confident we will be able to provide the necessary security and safety services here in Ohio even with the deployment,” he said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has been dispatched to assist other states in the past, and Ohio has called on other states to help with large events. In 2016, hundreds of officers from several states were in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention. Later that year, Ohio troopers were sent to North Dakota where people were protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.
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