Rep. Novotny comments following shooting involving officers

State representative and House Republican Public Safety Committee lead Paul Novotny, R-Elk River, issued the following statement regarding an incident in Minnetonka on April 10 where a Hennepin County sheriff’s deputy was shot and another injured while serving a warrant.

“I am grateful to hear that both deputies involved in today’s incident are expected to make a full recovery,” said Novotny. “Every day, law enforcement officers put on their uniforms, say goodbye to their families, and step into a world that has become increasingly hostile to their work and one where criminals have become further emboldened to do them harm. Now more than ever, law enforcement needs to know that they have the full support of elected officials and that we will do everything we can to make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

Steve Karnowski of the Associated Press reported the suspect was killed during an exchange of gunfire in the Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka, according to authorities.

The shootout happened just before 11:20 a.m. One deputy was taken to a hospital with injuries that were “very serious” but not life-threatening, Sheriff Dawanna Witt said at a news conference, while the other was treated on-site and released, according to the Associated Press report.

The incident comes two months after the fatal shooting in Burnsville of two police officers and a firefighter-paramedic during a long standoff that started with a domestic abuse call and ended after the suspect killed himself.

The AP reported Witt said attacks on law enforcement are on the rise in Minnesota, doubling since 2017.

“Every single day, first responders are rushing to help others, hoping to keep our community safe,” Witt said. “They do not deserve to be threatened, they do not deserve to be assaulted, they do not deserve to be killed for doing their job.”