Auditor interviews ’underway’ following delay and questioning from KSTP

After months of delays and a lot of questions in our reporting, the City of Minneapolis says interviews are underway in its auditor’s review of two high-profile cases. 

Frustration grows as review drags on due to lack of officer cooperation

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has also obtained a memo from Minneapolis Police Department leadership addressed to its rank and file, reminding them of their “obligation” to participate in the auditor’s work and that disciplinary action could be taken if they don’t. 

It all stems from concerns shared last month by Minneapolis Auditor Robert Timmerman to city council committees about a lack of participation from MPD officers in two high-profile case reviews. 

Minneapolis auditor shares timeline of ‘resistance and delay’ with MPD participation

The letter was sent a week after 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS pressed city leaders for specifics on how they plan to get officers to comply.

Minneapolis safety commissioner says MPD will join audit, but how is still a mystery

Also, the city shares that the “interviews are underway and the review is ongoing.”

In regard to the discipline mentioned in the memo, MPD did not share what that punishment could look like, only sharing its discipline policy, which states “termination” is possible following “insubordination.” 

At the center of one of those reviews is Davis Moturi, whose case involves him getting shot in the neck by his neighbor after going to police multiple times over threats. 

“It’s good that they’re happening, but it sucks that it took that much effort,” Moturi said about the development that auditor interviews are underway. 

“I would like to live in a city in which we have officers that don’t act as if they’re untouchable,” Moturi added.

These delays are also costing taxpayers — the city auditor is getting help from an outside firm with the two cases, which is now expected to cost $200,000, up more than double from the original expected price of $90,000.

Auditor: Cost more than doubling for outside help reviewing high-profile cases, MPD not cooperating