Roundup: Police Chief Dolan's Reappointment Approved 8-5

Submitted by haloka on Sat, 03/13/2010 - 13:52

Friday at Minneapolis City Hall, Tim Dolan was reappointed as Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department by an 8-5 vote over widespread community opposition. Dolan’s original appointment in 2006 was approved 12-1, and since then his department has overseen the repression of dissent before and after the 2008 RNC; multiple police killings of people of color including Fong Lee; several expensive settlements resulting from false arrests, taser use, and police brutality; the Metro Gang Strike Force scandal; and a culture of disrespect for the law as it applies to police and for the human rights of Minneapolis residents.

The reappointment has also stirred controversy over the last month amongst the Civilian Review Authority (CRA), a somewhat powerless but sometimes pesky body whose chair, Don Bellfield, has stifled criticism of the MPD and cancelled a statute-mandated meeting after a recent public hearing on Dolan. Below: Roundup of the Vote Friday and Related Coverage

 
A small selection of TCIMC articles regarding the systemic abuses of the MPD over the last year:

From Dave Bicking
(Bicking’s seat on the CRA is itself up for reappointment later this month)

Police Chief Dolan has just been reappointed.  The biggest surprise is
that there were five votes against:

Cam Gordon, Ward 2
Robert Lilligren, Ward 6
Elizabeth Glidden, Ward 8
Meg Tuthill, Ward 10
Betsy Hodges, Ward 13

All Council members spoke about the issue, except Lisa Goodman - though
she mentioned her support for Dolan during earlier comments about
reappointment of the Health Department head.  I'll write up some of the
comments later.

Major concerns of those who voted against were budgetary and discipline
and work with the Civilian Review Authority.  Many who spoke on either
side talked about the need to improve cooperation with the community and
the CRA.  We should follow up to insist that that happens.

Now is a good time to thank all those who voted against, particularly if
one of them is your own representative.  Though we didn't defeat Dolan,
such significant opposition means that Dolan is "on notice" on some of
these issues.  That has an effect, and I think we can say that those who
worked to oppose Dolan HAVE had an effect.  The vote for his original
appointment was 12 - 1.  And so far, every other department head
recommended for reappointment have been approved unanimously…
 
Live Updates from Friday’s Hearing via @smilyus
  • ·   Dolan Vote: Yes - Reich, Hofstede, Johnson, Samuels, Goodman, Schiff, Quincy, Colvin Roy. No - Gordon, Lilligran, Glidden, Tuthill, Hodges 11:05AM Mar 12th
  • ·    Dolan reappointed for #mpls police chief 8 - 5 11:00 AM Mar 12th 
  • ·    rybak supporting #mpls police chief reappointment saying a safer city and reduction of crime 10:52 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    lilligran is not supporting reappointment of #mpls police chief 10:46 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    Colvin Roy supports reappointment of #mpls police chief Dolan 10:41 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    gordon says won't support #mpls police chief reappointment 10:36 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    schiff is supporting #mpls police chief reappointment 10:28 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    Reich supporting reappointment of #mpls police chief 10:26 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    tuthill also not supporting reappointment - budget and police culture issues #mpls police chief 10:26 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    Quincy is supporting reappointment of #mpls police chief due to leadership and says dolan committed to working with CRA? 10:21 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    samuels citing safety as primary importance of supporting #mpls police chief reappointment 10:14 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    hofstede is voting for reappointment of #mpls police chief - no surprise 10:07 AM Mar 12th
  • ·    glidden citing dolans going over budget - issues of liability, CRA issues - as issues for not voting in favor of reappointment 10:05 AM Mar 12th
  • ·    glidden also says she won't vote in favor of reappointment of #mpls police chief dolan 10:03 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    hodges says management issues with dolan and won't vote for reappointment 10:01 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    hodges saying Dolan deserves credit for reduction of crime - says issues w/ community and budget under dolan 9:58 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    rybak just showed and dolan vote will be soon 9:54 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    all 13 are present at #mpls city council meeting 9:36 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    this morning is reappointment vote for #mpls police chief dolan. what do u think the final vote will be? 1:26 AM Mar 12th  
  • ·    RT @InjusticeNews: #Mpls settles suit for $75k to man shown on dashcam video being tasered in neck...http://is.gd/ahLaN 9:28 PM Mar 11th  
From Dave Bicking/CUAPB Before the Vote:
 
Now is a critical time to make your voice heard for better policing in Minneapolis. This morning the City Council will vote whether to reappoint Police Chief Tim Dolan to another 3-year term. Based on his record, he should NOT serve another term. …

There has been some good news. Many people showed up for the public hearing held by the Public Safety Committee last Wednesday, March 3. Though that Committee voted to pass on the reappointment of Dolan to the full Council, there was dissent. Two members out of the six abstained from voting, and one member, Cam Gordon, Green Party Council member from Ward 2, voted against Dolan. Cam has provided a thorough and excellent explanation of his opposition, which can be found on his blog, at: http://secondward.blogspot.com/2010/03/performance-reveiw-on-safe-city.html

Cam has received a lot of praise both for his vote, and for his willingness to communicate with the public about his reasons. I hope other Council members take note. Also, the Green Party has issued a statement opposing Dolan's reappointment.

One of the reasons to oppose Dolan is his contempt for the Civilian Police Review Authority (CRA) and his persistent failure to discipline officers. The CRA issued a report on his performance relative to CRA responsibilities. Though the CRA does not take a position on the reappointment, their report was highly critical, with documentation of inadequate acccountability. That report is available online at: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cra/docs/CRA-Board_Chief-Dolan_review_2009.pdf

Council member Betsy Hodges (Ward 13) questioned Chief Dolan about the findings of the CRA report during the Public Safety Committee meeting. She abstained during the vote, saying that she wanted to evaluate his answers, which I found to be evasive. Her constituents, especially, should thank her for that questioning, and urge her to follow through by voting no tomorrow.

…

Whatever the vote on Friday, we must continue our work to improve the police department, to bring greater accountabiltiy to reduce the level of misconduct, and to support the survivors of police abuse. But it is most urgent now, when the police chief is being evaluated for reappointment, and while public attention is focused on the issue.

 

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Comments

Submitted by Michael Cavlan RN on Sat, 03/13/2010 - 21:06.

 Lets not forget the CRA meeting that the CRA chair, Don Bellafield cancelled, with no reason or notice.

The community, along with two sitting members of the CRA and a former chair had the meeting anyway. That meeting did a hell of a lot more and had more credibility than the RT Ryback sanctioned CRA.

Submitted by vipin on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 08:34.

I totally agree with michael, i remember the meeting Don Bellafield cancelled without notice.

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