Brooklyn Center City Council Recommends Firing Police Chief, Officer Immediately
The Brooklyn Center city council voted to recommend to the new acting city manager that the police chief and officer involved in Sunday’s shooting be fired immediately. The new acting city manager, Dr. Reggie Edwards, said he’d make the decision by Tuesday.
“I recognize that this decision is mine, as your chief executive,” said Edwards.”Coming to this position three hours ago, I do not have a recommendation. But I will have one overnight.”
City Council cannot fire police chief or an officer
The council does not have the authority to fire the police chief or an officer. They can only fire the city manager, which they did hours before in an emergency meeting.
The council voted 3-1 for the recommendation. Mayor Mike Elliott had already excused himself from the meeting because of a “public safety matter.”
Marquita Butler, acting as mayor pro tem, brought the recommendation to the council table.
“We saw the video. She herself in the video realized within seconds she had made a mistake,” said Butler. “We know the mistake was made. She should be held accountable immediately.”
Butler mentioned a previous interaction with police chief Tim Gannon and described him as “defensive” and “anti-community.”
Council member Kris Lawrence-Anderson was the lone vote against the recommendation.
“I do believe as a council, we should give our new acting city manager some time to evaluate the situation. I would not vote on immediately removing the police chief. I respect the work of the BCA and their investigation into the officer who created the shooting,” said Lawrence-Anderson.
Also See: BCA Identifies Officer in Brooklyn Center Shooting Incident
Also See: Brooklyn Center City Hall Shake Up: City Manager Curt Boganey Fired
Banning Crowd Control Tactics like Rubber Bullets, Tear Gas
The city council also passed a resolution banning crowd control tactics like rubber bullets, tear gas, and a tactic known as “kettling” or police lines to corral protestors. The resolution also included choke holds.
“I definitely think peaceful protestors should not be tear-gassed,” said council member April Graves.
The resolution would not override the Governor’s curfew, and it would also not apply to other law enforcement agencies.
“We’re committed to resolution and healing,” said council member Dan Ryan.
The council also approved a resolution to address security for city council members.
