MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The governor is speaking out about a new plan to handle high-profile police cases in Minneapolis.
On Wednesday, Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau announced the city would shift some of its internal investigations to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension .
“There was concern by members of this council and members of the community with why Minneapolis continues to investigate their own critical incidents,” Harteau said.
But the governor said Thursday the state will not cooperate. And the police union’s president said the chief’s plan is a “slap in the face.”
“It didn’t need to have, you know, some grand press announcement as some Titanic reform effort in Minneapolis,” Dayton said. “And you really got to question why it was handled the way it was.”
He believes a re-structuring of the current system would be asking the BCA to go too far.
“They’re not supposed to be the first responder to an incident in Minneapolis or anywhere else, and then be responsible for taking control of the investigation, and handling it all,” he said.
The president of the Minneapolis police union, John Delmonico, met with the governor before Thursday’s press conference.
“It’s a slap in the face of every Minneapolis police officer to think that our chief questions whether we can do a thorough, fair job at investigation or not,” he said.
Delmonico also said there’s no need for the BCA since there’s never been questions surrounding the quality of Minneapolis police detective work.
He says they appreciate Dayton’s support.
