Hello Minneapolis,
Here is my attempt at a recap of today's PCRC
meeting. Chief McManus couldn't make it today, so it
fell to Deputy Chief Harris to explain how the
current state of affairs has come to pass (i.e.,
the City's non-compliance with the Federal Mediation
Agreement).
The MPD was well represented, despite some rather
conspicuous absences. Those concerned citizens in
attendance included; Duane Reed (President of our
local NAACP), Farheen Hakeem, Marcus Harcus, Barb
Lickness, Reverand Bethel, Angel Morales, Aaron
Neumann, Cara Letofsky, Michael Friedman, Mark
Anderson, Anne Alquist, Willie Dominguez, Ralph
Remington, and many others...it was, essentially, the
most well-attended PS & RS Meeting this year--to
the best of my knowledge.
There seemed to be a great deal of confusion from
the MPD as to exactly who might be accountable for
implementation of the Federal Mediation Agreement.
Though Deputy Chief Harris was representing the MPD
he, at one point, indicated that he was "not in
charge". He went on to explain that 12 Officers
represented the MPD on the PCRC, and that Lt.
Arrodondo
HAD been the Community Liaison (i.e., the final say
from the MPD on the process), but the question as
to the exact chain-of-command seemed murky at best.
Council Member Natalie Johnson-Lee repeatedly
interjected throughout Deputy Chief Harris's
presentation...trying to bring some clarity and some
degree of accountability to bear and seemed quite
successful in pointing out that little seemed to
exist.
Also notable in the matter was the fact that
Council Members Lilligren and Schiff both attended
the Meeting in addition to Natalie Johnson-Lee
(the 3 are not on the PS & RS Committee). Both CMs
Lilligren and Schiff asked questions that, again,
highlighted problems with the chain-of-command.
Council Member Zerby was praised for his leadership
in the PCRC process. Council Member Niziolek indicated
that he had been trying to get the matter into
Committee for over 6 months and only when he himself
contacted all of the members was he successful in
his efforts.
There was a sense of frustration on the part
of the community members of the PCRC that was easily
picked up on by the audience. Again, the main issues
revolved around 2 fundamental concerns:
1). Is there a level of accountability in the
implementation of the Federal Mediation Agreement?
The MPD's Officer Dolan indicated he would play
a leadership role but that he might soon be going
to Washington DC for FBI Training...What is the
Mayor's role? What are the other Officers roles
in the process? Natalie Johnson-Lee indicated that
she found it rather strange when Deputy Chief
Harris indicated that the MPD didn't have adequate
staff or a budget to comply with the agreement...
especially in light of the fact that 12 Officers
sat on the Council. NJL asked, "You mean 12 Officers
sat on this Council and you never assigned them
any duties?"
2). Why has the Federal Mediation Agreement been
allowed to languish, seemingly, for 2 years with
such minimal action occuring? Rev. Bethel and Mark
Anderson indicated that the stalling emanated from
the Mayor's Office: That the Mayor had only recently
(two weeks prior) opted to open a dialogue with the
PCRC leadership. It seems very unclear, again, just
what the specific roles and duties of the various
Police Officers assigned might be...and the role
of the Mayor's Office (which has, seemingly, been
almost non-existent until very recently). Who is
in charge, at bottom, of the MPD and City's end of
the Council?
It would have been nice if other members of
the Community had been allowed to speak...a number
wanted to. I have to hand it to NJL for the questions
she asked, to some of the other Council Members for
pushing to get this on the front-burner, and to the
PCRC leadership for demonstrating such patience and
a continued willingness to seek a resolution.
The next PCRC Meeting will be in 2 cycles (i.e.,
in 4 weeks--after the election).
If the City Council previously unanimously
voted in favor of the Federal Mediation Agreement,
the MPD is seemingly trying to do its best (despite
obvious interference, behind the scenes, from
someone outside the Department) and the PCRC
Leadership
continues in its willingness to work with the
process...who in the Hell has been holding up
progress? Three guesses and the first two don't
count. The MPD has my empathy and understanding...
it is an unenviable position; to have to explain
an atrociously botched situation not of their making--
at least from my standpoint.
In summation, I keep seeing these problems
downtown; homelessness, public safety, PCRC gridlock,
NRP and Neighborhood exasperation...If the Police,
Neighborhoods, Advocates, the City Council,
Community Leaders are all at the table (repeatedly)
on these issues...well, it don't take a rocket
scientist to figure out the missing element in
the equation.
For those of you who doubt the verity of what
transpired, watch the Council Meeting for yourselves.
For those with blinders on, you have my deepest
sympathies. The citizens of Minneapolis need to
wake up to the policies of duplicity that emanate
like discordant rumblings from an upset tummy
and identify the culprit.
Fin, Finito, Am Ende,
Guy Gambill
(Uptown)
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