Police In Minnesota Quip About 'Defunding Police' On Twitter

WYOMING, MN — The police department in the small town of Wyoming, Minnesota is well known on social media for its light-hearted jokes about life in law enforcement. Its popular Twitter account has gained followers from across the nation thanks to its viral gags.

In 2017, the department joked that it had established "undercover #420 operations" and "discreet traps" throughout its city on catch people illegally using Marijuana on 4/20.

However, a quip about the "defunding police" movement is drawing criticism.

Some followers say Monday's tweet was insensitive, uncharacteristic, and unnecessarily political.

After the Memorial Day arrest and death of George Floyd — which happened about 30 minutes south of Wyoming in Minneapolis — activists from around the country began pushing to defund and even end police departments altogether.

In a now-viral video of the incident, Floyd is heard telling officers "I can't breathe" while being forced down onto the street. He also asks for water.

Bystanders tell Derek Chauvin — who had his knee on Floyd's neck — to get off of him. A second officer — Tou Thao — ordered people to back away from the scene.

Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck even after he went motionless.

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All four officers who were at the scene were fired the next day, and have since been criminally charged.

Thao, Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane all face charges of aiding and abetting unintentional second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Chauvin faces third-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, and second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony.

Last month, members of the Minneapolis City Council took the first steps in dismantling their city's police department. By a vote of 12-0, the council advanced a measure that would amend the city charter to remove the requirement for a police department.