Hennepin County Sheriff DaWanna Witt says she's has noticed a considerable change since White House border czar Tom Homan arrived, and announced the end of "Operation Metro Surge" in the Twin Cities.
Speaking with with WCCO's Adam and Jordana, Witt talked about the differences between Homan and Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino, who was removed from the Twin Cities operation when President Donald Trump sent Homan.
"Well, I think what we can see between the two is one lacked leadership skills and the other did not, in a sense," Witt says. "We did see a notable change when he got here and how he responded to our complaints."
As far as the drawndown of federal agents, the protesters at the Whipple Federal building at Fort Snelling have decreased.
"We've seen a de-escalation of like agents coming out of the Whipple building since we've been there," Witt explained. "And, you know, no matter how people look at that, that separation has protected our residents and the protesters that have been there."
Witt also had some strong words when it came to the shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by federal agents. The sheriff says both Renee Good and Alex Pretti didn't deserve to die for their actions around those federal operations.
"From what I've seen on the videos, they were doing it the right way," Witt explains. "You know, here goes the thing, it's like words do matter. They do. I can tell even with my deputies, people do try to antagonize them. And you know, as I would remind them, there is some truth to, 'we are held to a higher standard.' And we cannot react in that way. And that doesn't give people also the right to verbally abuse us either, and to say the things that you say. But at the end of the day we are held to a higher standard."
Witt was also critical of protesters that went too far, saying it takes away from the message peaceful protesters are trying to convey.
"We have taken action, some people seem to have forgotten that we enforce the law here. If you do cross the line we will arrest you," Witt says. "You don't get to break things. You don't get to throw things at people. That is not peaceful."
"We saw a notable change when he got here and how he responded to complaints," Sheriff Dawanna Witt said
