January 31, 2006 - Duluth police have been cleared of criminal charges in the death of an intoxicated man last fall.
February 6, 2006 - The murder trial in the killing of St. Paul police officer James Sackett gets underway today . Sackett was allegedly lured to a house by a fake 911 call and then shot by a sniper. Two black men, Larry Clark and Ronald Reed, are accused in the shooting death of the officer, who was white. The murder of a police officer is rare, but what makes this case even more unusual is that the murder took place 35 years ago, during a time of racial turmoil. The judge in the case has said he only wants to hear about the crime -- not the times, but the two may be difficult to separate. Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph talked to people who remember what St. Paul was like 35 years ago and she has this report.
March 27, 2006 - The Rochester police department is looking to hire a lot of officers. This is because more than a tenth of the department is scheduled to retire by the end of the year. And by 2008 the city will need to find money to keep officers hired through the federal COPS program started during the Clinton administration.As this process begins people within the city are talking about the department's priorities.
April 19, 2006 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports on Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak state of the city address. Public safety was the top priority outlined in his address. Rybak delivered his speech Tuesday afternoon in north Minneapolis -- a part of the city that contains several high crime neighborhoods. The mayor focused much of his speech on plans to bring jobs, housing, commerce and hope there. Report also contains community commentary on reaction to Rybak’s speech.
April 26, 2006 - The Minneapolis Police Department has opened an internal investigation into two officers who were arrested early Tuesday morning in Columbia Heights. According to police reports, Officer Lindsay Anderson was arrested for drunk driving and Officer Steven Herron was arrested for obstruction of justice. Both have been removed from street duties. Minneapolis Police Department spokesman, Officer Ron Reier, says the department responded promptly to the news of the arrests.
May 24, 2006 - Attorneys in Minneapolis are trying to settle a lawsuit over the 2003 shooting of a police officer by another officer. Duy Ngo is suing the city for millions of dollars after being shot multiple times while working undercover. Ngo's attorney Bob Bennett says Ngo may never fully recover.
May 25, 2006 - Attorneys in Minneapolis are trying to settle a lawsuit over the 2003 shooting of a police officer by another officer. Duy Ngo is suing the city for millions of dollars after being shot multiple times while working undercover. Ngo's attorney Bob Bennett says Ngo may never fully recover.
June 6, 2006 - Two Minneapolis police officers are on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into allegations of police misconduct. Police officials say Lieutenants Rick Thomas and Mike Fossum were involved in an arrest late last month that is under investigation. The event happened at the Little Earth United Tribes housing development and was recorded by a video camera that belongs to the organization. Officials from Little Earth would not comment on what was captured on the tape. But they did say the alleged victim was not a resident of the development. American Indian activist Clyde Bellecourt, says he was contacted by a woman who believes she is related to the man.
June 6, 2006 - Minneapolis police officials say two lieutenants are the subject of an internal investigation following allegations that they used excessive force against a man they arrested late last month. Community activists say they've talked to witnesses who say the alleged victim was handcuffed and struck by the officers and placed in the back seat of a squad car with the windows rolled up on a hot day. Interim police chief Tim Dolan didn't comment directly on the allegations but says the investigation will be handled in a timely and professional manner. Dolan appeared this morning at a press conference held at the Little Earth United Tribes housing complex -- the site of the alleged incident. He was confronted by some community members who charged that one of the officers under investigation was known for bad behavior.
June 7, 2006 - Minneapolis police officials say two lieutenants are the subject of an internal investigation following allegations that they used excessive force against a man they arrested late last month. Community activists say they've talked to witnesses who say the alleged victim was handcuffed and struck by the officers and placed in the back seat of a squad car with the windows rolled up on a hot day. Interim police chief Tim Dolan didn't comment directly on the allegations but says the investigation will be handled in a timely and professional manner. Dolan appeared this morning at a press conference held at the Little Earth United Tribes housing complex -- the site of the alleged incident. He was confronted by some community members who charged that one of the officers under investigation was known for bad behavior.