Probe into Golden Valley Police Department finds culture of racism, leads to officer departures

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.startribune.com/probe-into-golden-valley-police-department-finds-culture-of-racism-leads-to-officer-exodus/600231985/

A widespread internal investigation found a culture of racism within the Golden Valley Police Department and resistance to antiracism efforts among the force that saw one termination and the departure of at least six other officers during the course of the probe.

The investigation was commissioned by the Greene Espel Law Firm at the behest of Mayor Shep Harris over allegations of racism and officer misconduct launched nine months ago. It focused on eight officers who allegedly created a "toxic and inappropriate work culture," according to a human resources complaint. Only one of those officers remains with the department.

Harris called for the probe in March while in the midst of hiring the city's first Black chief and while the department was already facing an officer shortage and ongoing conflict over antiracism efforts outlined in the investigation. The redacted reports of more than 100 pages went live on the city's website late Wednesday, the latest development in a clash between some officers and city leadership championing police reform and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

"The independent investigation was necessary to bring clarity to the allegations of misconduct, hold employees accountable, and have a better understanding of the systemic issues that harm community trust in policing," wrote City Manager Tim Cruikshank in a statement. He declined interview requests.

[progree]

1. The fired officer sounds like a Fox viewer utterly determined to get "the truth" out

the comments included disparaging comments about the existence of systemic racism and statistics about the Black community.

In the recordings, Hoefling [the fired officer] can be heard debating and ridiculing statistics on inequities, like the higher likelihood of Black women dying in childbirth.

In one example, Hoefling comments that Black Americans have a disparate amount of the nation’s wealth “because they don’t work,” and White Americans have more of the nation’s wealth “because they work.” ...

. . . In a response to an email from an HR staff member about hosting “healing circles” events following the trial of Derek Chauvin, the disgruntled officer replied to all city staff that they disagreed that Floyd’s murder was “a murder, a killing, things to that effect” and that the issue was rather about “complying with simple instructions given by police.”

From the December 9 issue of the Sun Post (covers 4 western suburbs - Golden Valley, Crystal, Robbinsdale, New Hope)

https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_post/news/local/golden-valley-fires-officer-following-alleged-violation-of-data-practices-act/article_15933a04-71c7-11ed-a2e3-0f7541f8321d.html