Slain Officer’s Widow Issues Stark Warning to Walz: Don’t Attend Funeral or Be Thrown Out
The widow of a slain sheriff’s deputy threatened to have Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz thrown out if he dared attend her husband’s funeral in 2023.
Shannon Owen informed the vice presidential hopeful that he was not welcome at her husband’s 2023 service. Her husband, Josh Owen, an Iraq veteran and Pope County sheriff’s deputy, was shot and killed in the line of duty on his 44th birthday on April 15, 2023, while responding to a domestic violence call, according to the New York Post.
“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,” the widow said in a recording, which 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?’”
Owen also emphasized that her husband “did not like him at all.”
During the exchange, she warned Walz that if he decided to show up, she would “make sure that I escort your ass out of here.”
“I totally understand and respect your rights. Our officers are here to support you in any way you need.” Walz said before the call quickly ended, according to the report.
He did not attend the funeral.
Owen criticized Walz, alleging that he projects a “nice guy” image to garner support but is unfit to serve as vice president. She also called him a “puppet.”
“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 told the Telegraph.
Before his death, Josh had planned on leaving the force. He was upset about the new reform laws that targeted law enforcement in Minnesota after the death of George Floyd in 2020.
He had also served 12 years in the National Guard and served two years in Iraq with his unit in 2006, which happened to be the same unit that Walz quit before setting out for deployment in 2005.
Owen refused all contact, as Walz had reached out to her on several occasions, due to the restrictions he put on law enforcement, jeopardizing their safety.
At one point, she accepted his phone call as a family member recorded the conversation. She said that she didn’t say much but let him “ramble,” stating that it’s “what politicians do.”
“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?’”
Owen said that she knew her husband didn’t like Walz and would not want “any corrupt politicians” present at his service.
“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.’”
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