Sunday's StarTribune contained a report that the U.S. Justice Department was undertaking a preliminary inquiry of complaints from members of minority communities that the Minneapolis Police are guilty of biased and brutal law enforcement.
As part of this process the Community Relations Service of the Justice Dept. has offered mediation services to the city. St. Paul recently underwent a similar mediation process between the NAACP and the St. Paul Police Dept. I am of the opinion that it would be a major mistake to engage in mediation before there were a thorough independent investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department. I'm certain that if the Justice Department conducts a preliminary inquiry they will find probable cause to proceed further with a full investigation. It is disturbing that this story has been unfolding for several months behind closed doors and only now are we hearing of it. The Mayor's office will churn out reams of happy news but would they release a statement saying that the Mayor has turned down the offer of the Justice Dept. to mediate between the city and its minority communities? You can bet that if the Mayor engages the services of the Justice Department's community relations service we will see a press release leading us to believe it is a good thing. At the end of Sunday's report, Kenith Bergeron of the Justice Dept. Mediation service said that "in general he thought they(the Justice Dept. Civil Rights Divsion)typically would not be investigating a city involved in mediation." He added, "they would see a city in mediation as going forward. They would see a city working with the community." I would see a city wanting to skirt the issue. I would see a city afraid to look closely at itself. The time for mediation is AFTER an investigation, not before. Tim Connolly Downtown West __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better http://health.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
