Dear Council member Herron: I moved into your ward about 2 1/2 months ago. I am watching with great interest the votes on whether to reappointment Chief Olson. I have doubts that he will lose, but I am looking at the votes as an important litmus test of commitment to civil and human rights. Olson has taken credit for developing CODEFOR and other aggressive policies that have the effect of targetting people in predominantly low-income communities of color for harassment, illegal searches, false arrests, and other intrusions. Although these policies were initiated at the behest of the elected officials who are ultimately to blame, Olson has publicly stood behind the police department's practices even after obvious evidence presented by the Star Tribune provided overwhelming statistical and anecdotal evidence that the practices are racist. The removal of Olson obviously will not end racist practices that existed long before he was alive, but it will at least signal some commitment by the city council to make changes. Another extremely disturbing development under Olson's leadership has been the greatly increased repression of political protesters. - In December, 1998, the Minneapolis police department coordinated the operation that sent more than 600 police officers to arrest 38 peaceful protesters objecting to the re-route of Highway 55. The vast majority of the protesters were merely present at the site, and were arrested in jailed for two days even though they were doing nothing illegal. A small number of the protesters chained themselves to the houses. Although they were completely non-violent and posed no threat to anyone, the police had been instructed to use pepper spray gel with the purposes of causing extreme pain to these protesters to force them to comply with police. Minneapolis police continued to use gratuitous violence during other protests on the Highway 55 matter. - On May 1, 2000, the police department, under Olson's personal command, arrested approximately 34 peaceful protesters. Approximately 29 of the cases were dismissed at the first court appearance because there were not even allegations by police of any wrongdoing. One of the protesters went to trial and was acquitted because the arresting officer's allegations about her resisting arrest were contradicted by photographs. - On July 24, 2000, the Minneapolis launched a paramilitary operation of 831 officers from several agencies to prevent a protest against an animal genetics conference by 150 protesters. The Minneapolis police used tear gas, rubber bullets and batons to attack this entirely non-violent and arguably legal protest. There were about 80 arrests. Of the 31 criminal cases left that are being pursued at the political behest of the police department, it is unlikely that any will result in criminal convictions. Using tactics reminiscent of a totalitarian soceity, the Minneapolis police used undercover officers to infiltrate and spy on the groups planning the protest. It was widely publicized that the Minneapolis police department spent a total of more than 1.1 million dollars on this travesty. What is most distrubing is that Olson has responded to the revelations about the complete absurdity and offensivenss of his department's actions by spending even more money trying to defend himself and whitewash his department's actions! The department actually put together a large pamphlet claiming to analyze its response to the ISAG protests but in reality trying to rationalize the actions. By continuing to falsely refer to the activists as violent and suggesting his department's actions were justifiable, Olson shows that he has no appreciation for the concept of free political expression, and ensures that our constitutional rights will not be respected in the future. You are undoubtedly aware that Minneapolis police officers have shot and killed five people within the past year. Although I am not intimately familiar with the facts of any of these incidents, I strongly believe that so many tragedies in such a short time are a manifestation of a department that has serious problems at the top. Enough facts are available to support a conclusion that all of these incidents could have at least turned out differently. What is again most disturbing is that Olson has responded to each of these deaths by immediately defending what happened. The prioritization of public relations far ahead of finding out the truth again ensures that the department will be far less likely to change its policies in the future and lessen the likelihood of civilians being killed by police. I do wish to emphasize that changing police chiefs will not fundamentally solve all problems in the department. At the same time, the problems cannot be solved by keeping a chief that is committed to policies that perpetuate racist oppression, brutalize and repress political activists, and encourage the use of deadly force. A radical and fundamental re-thinking and reworking of policing concepts is necessary. Making a change at the top is an essential beginning. Jordan Kushner Powderhorn
