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The wife of a sheriff’s deputy who was murdered in the line of duty warned Democrat vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to not attend her husband’s funeral.
Shannon Owen’s husband, Iraq War veteran Josh Owen, was shot and killed on his 44th birthday in April 2023, The New York Post reported.
The widow warned the governor not to come anywhere near the funeral, or she would have him physically removed.
“You have never been a supporter of the police and I’d just appreciate it if you just don’t come anywhere near my town,” she said directly to the governor in a recording that was obtained by The Telegraph.
“And he’s like, ‘Why is that?’ And I said, ‘Because you defunded the police. You don’t even support the police, why would I want you to come?’” she said as she mentioned that her husband “did not like him at all.”
She informed the governor that if he did come, she would “make sure that I escort your ass out of here.”
The governor, who sounded flustered by the comment, said, “I totally understand and respect your rights. Our officers are here to support you in any way you need,” before the call ended.
When the wife spoke to The Telegraph she said that the governor pretends to be nice to attract voters but that is not who he is.
“I don’t like the way he is with the cops’ situation, the military situation. I just feel he is a puppet right now. He is not actually speaking about what he really wants to do,” she said.
“Josh Owens was killed while responding to a domestic violence call on April 15, 2023. As he tried to arrest the suspect, the man drew a gun and shot him four times,” The Post said.
“The 12-year National Guard vet served a two-year tour of Iraq in 2006 with his Minnesota unit — the same unit Walz had controversially quit in 2005 before his own deployment,” it said.
She said she had ignored several of the governor’s calls because her husband was furious with him for restrictions he placed on police after the death of George Floyd, which sparked national protests.
The deceased officer believed that those restrictions made the jobs of police tougher and was planning on quitting the force because of it before he was slain.
Eventually the widow took the governor’s call and let him know what she thought of him.
“I took the phone call. I didn’t say much. I just let him ramble because that is what politicians do,” she said to the Telegraph.
“I said, ‘Are you planning on coming to the funeral?’ and he said, ‘Of course I’d be honored to come,’ and I said, ‘Well, you’re not welcome.’ And he’s like, ‘Why is that?’ And I said, ‘Because you defunded the police. You don’t even support the police, why would I want you to come?’” she said.
“And Josh did not like him at all. And that would have been his wishes to not have any corrupt politicians there,” the widow said.
“He [Walz] was a little bit blindsided on that and didn’t know what to say. I just said, ‘And if you show up to my town, I know everybody in my hometown will escort you out because I don’t want you here,’” she said.
After Floyd died the governor signed a bill that banned police chokeholds and demanded that other officers intervene and report if they witness another officer using excessive force.
The governor also created a state investigation unit for police and a database for officer misconducted. He later signed another piece of legislation that banned no-knock warrants.
“After that, everything was against the cops, defunding the cops,” she said, though the governor has never supported the “Defund The Police” movement.
The governor issued a press release with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan in which they called the officer a “hero” after he was slain.
