Brooklyn Park Council Approves Mental Health Eval Request for Member
In a tense meeting on Monday, Oct. 14, the Brooklyn Park City Council formally asked one of its own members to seek a mental health evaluation.
Five of the council’s seven members signed off on a letter to Council Member Maria Tran requesting that she speak with a mental health professional.
It’s a rare move that comes after she tried to get a permit for a firearm.
The council previously discussed making the request by resolution, but settled on a letter instead.
Several elected city officials said that Tran has made a series of unfounded accusations against other council members and city staff.
She also believes there’s a conspiracy to harm her at city hall, according to elected officials.
Tran was previously censured for violation the city’s respectful workplace policy.
Police Chief Concerns
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley recently brought forward concerns to the council regarding Tran after she applied for a gun permit with the police department.
According to Bruley, Tran attempted to circumvent the process to get the permit, telling a police sergeant she needed the gun to protect herself from other council members.
However, she refused to provide her home address to police.
Bruley said she’s filed a number of a reports with the police department.
However, he said he’s never seen any evidence that would bring a reasonable person to believe that there was danger.
“One continuous theme that I’ve seen throughout numerous reports, investigations, and things that she’s told me is this paranoia of bodily harm and fear of somebody killing her, somebody after her and attacking, and that has always given me significant concern,” he said. “It was very clear that there was no reasonable facts that you could articulate, or she could bring to the table that would lead somebody like myself to go ‘yes, you actually are in legitimate fear,’ or ‘I would have similar fears,’ and that was very concerning … to live your life thinking people are going to harm you is a horrible way to live.”
The Brooklyn Park City Council requested that Council Member Maria Tran, pictured here in an interview with CCX News, seek a mental health evaluation.
Council Comments
The bulk of the council was in support of sending Tran the letter.
“There’s a safety concern here for us as a council,” said Mayor Hollies Winston. “And I don’t think this would have been raised except for that safety concern. Because some of us — rightly or wrongly — I tend to think rightly, believe that there’s some behavior that’s a little divorced from reality.”
Council Member Christian Eriksen noted that while the council members aren’t doctors, several have a background in the mental health field.
“Symptoms are indicators of a problem and you don’t have to be a medical professional to recognize them and want someone to get help for them,” he said.
Tran did not attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, the lone dissenter at the meeting was Council Member Boyd Morson.
He questioned the motives of the council and claimed Tran’s complaints haven’t been properly investigated. He characterized it as an attempt to damage Tran’s reputation.
“This unexcusable, inappropriate and unethical conduct, I will not attach my name to anything of such,” he said. “I’m not a doctor, I’m not a psychologist. I don’t claim to be and don’t want to be, but I do know what human rights is. And I think this is totally a violation of human rights … This is just totally ridiculous to me, and I won’t be part of this ridiculous conduct and behavior, to be part of this dysfunctional … that continues to happen, been exhibited by this council.”
Morson left the meeting early.
His comments prompted rebuke from the remaining council members.
“This is not meant to embarrass anybody,” said Council Member Nichole Klonowski. “The point is to ask our friend and colleague to get help, not to shame her.”
Related: Brooklyn Park Council Requests Mental Health Eval for Colleague
