Michelle says: The Spokesman-Recorder ran a lengthy article that included text from a number of emails with MPD email addresses that had been sent to Natalie Johnson Lee. They were filled with seething racism and sexism. Some were even threatening. I doubt that any of these cops ever got sanctioned for sending such hateful messages. When it becomes okay to issue racist, threatening messages out over your employer's email system to city officials--that's a strong message from management about expectations of behavior. In my mind, much of the problems with MPD culture stem from MPD leadership being afraid to take on the federation. The federation is so powerful that I often refer to John Delmonico as the unelected mayor of Minneapolis. The federation defends every brutal thug who comes down the pike and even threatens people who make complaints about the MPD Rybak, Olson and just about everyone else in the city is afraid to touch him.
Peter says: Michelle, I used to think Rybak was afraid of the Police Federation as well (and beholden to them for their endorsement). But several weeks ago in the Southwest Journal the Mayor wrote a letter to the editor reproving the Federation for comments they circulated against Council Member Barrett Lane in regard to budget cuts for the police department which Lane had proposed. Indeed, it's depressing to think about Rybak defending Lane after remaining silent when Olson and his subordinates abused Johnson Lee. And the rest of the City Council is just as reprehensible as Rybak. Despite the outrageous behavior of our police officers last summer, the City Council (which, like Rybak, remained silent while Johnson Lee was being drawn and quartered) approved a raise for police officers while other city employees went without a raise. I no longer excuse Rybak or Olson or the City Council on grounds that the Police Union is too powerful. Though I wouldn't mind to see some union busting here. Not real progressive sounding of me, I know, but if we're going to beat the right then we might as well learn from some of their more successful tactics.-----------Peter Schmitz CARAG TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
