NEWS DAY | Millions for "police conduct" settlements in Minneapolis
Minneapolis has paid out $11 million for lawsuits or claims against the police department over the past four years, according to a report from KSTP-TV. The vast majority of the settlements involved complaints about officer conduct - 84% of all settlements over the last six years involved people who felt they were wronged by officers. Payments over the past six years included $1.2 million in accident settlements, and $12 million in officer conduct cases.
KSTP reports that, according to numbers from the Minneapolis City Attorney, the $2.4 million spent in officer conduct settlements so far in 2009 could pay 23 average officer salaries.
AP notes that this included three large payouts:
That includes a $495,000 settlement to Eldridge Chatman. He needed two brain surgeries after an officer hit him in the head during a raid that had nothing to do with him.
Another $626,000 went to a family after police barged into their home by mistake. Both sides traded gunfire but no one was hurt.
Some of the money went to current officers. Five of them received $740,000 after alleging racial discrimination.
Police Chief Tim Dolan sent a letter to the city council responding to the KSTP story by defending his administration and pointing out that the settlements involved officer conduct, not officer misconduct. Dolan's letter said that many payouts were for events that didn't happen on his watch. He has been police chief since 2007, and before that served as interim police chief since April 2006. Before becoming chief, he served in the MPD for 23 years.
Settlements and payouts typically take place years after the events that give rise to the claims. That argument cuts both ways - if many of the payout events occurred prior to Dolan's watch, there are probably other cases still making their way through the system that occurred from 2006 onward.
News with attitude, mostly from MN but with occasional forays abroad. News Day summarizes, links to, and comments on reports from news media around the world, with particular attention to Minnesota news.
The Twin Cities Daily Planet is an edited news source produced by professional journalists working in collaboration with citizen journalists from the local community. We publish original reported news articles, articles republished from media partners, and some content (Free Speech Zone articles, reader-submitted blog entries, comments) that is moderated but not edited. Click here for a complete description of our editorial policies. Support people-powered non-profit journalism! Volunteer, contribute news, or become a member to keep the Daily Planet in orbit. |
Mary Turck (editor@tcdailyplanet.net) is the editor of the TC Daily Planet.
We're people-powered journalism! Click on story links (below) to see more story information, and then email editor@tcdailyplanet.net if you want to report.
• 
Comments
Post new comment