Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis City Council considering fees for off-duty police work
Minneapolis City Council considering fees for off-duty police work
There’s a push for more oversight of the off-duty work of Minneapolis Police Department officers. They’re allowed to accept off-duty assignments under the police union contract with the city.
Some city council members want a clearer picture of how city resources are being used when officers are doing that work. The Minneapolis City Council voted 9 to 2 on Thursday to start considering implementing fees to recoup the cost of city resources being used during off-duty work by officers.
“I’m really glad we’re speaking about this,” said Council Member Jamal Osman, who represents Ward 6. “I think it’s smart to know what the cost of taxpayers’ money is.”
The council authorized the city attorney to draft an ordinance allowing the city to collect fees for off-duty use of city resources. Members also moved forward with a fee study to look at MPD’s use of vehicles, uniforms and other resources during off-duty work.
Council President Elliot Payne previously said it will allow the city to better track and manage the system.
“Police officers are taking on essentially gig work and they’re pocketing that as direct employment and they’re utilizing city resources,” said Payne during Thursday’s meeting.
Off-duty police work has been under scrutiny for years. Concerns surfaced during the trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor, who served prison time for shooting and killing Justin Ruszczyk Damond during an on-duty shift after he worked for hours at a private business.
A 2023 Department of Justice investigation found the jobs pay significantly more than overtime at MPD and “the officer keeps all the compensation, the city gets nothing.” The investigation said “off-duty employment also undermines supervision at MPD”, noting private entities hire the officers.
“We absolutely need to know who is out there, when they’re out there and where they’re at,” said Council Member Andrea Jenkins, who represents Ward 8.
She told 5 EYEWITTNESS NEWS more oversight of the system is needed but she questions whether a fee system is the right choice.
“I do think there is some public good that’s being served even if those police officers are off-duty,” said Jenkins. “Having police in uniform even if they’re off duty, per se, serves as a deterrent but also if something does happen, they’re right there.”
During the council meeting, Jenkins questioned how a fee would work if the officer has to respond to a call.
“Today’s action is to work with the City Attorney’s Office to be able to be responsive to those exact considerations,” responded Payne.
Details, such as who will pay the fee and what the fee will be, are expected to be worked out as the process moves forward. The process of drafting an ordinance will likely take weeks if not months. Further discussion by council members will follow.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Office of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette and Mayor Jacob Frey declined to comment following the vote.
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis did not respond to KSTP’s requests for comment.
The scene of the crash at 26th Avenue North and Emerson Avenue North in Minneapolis. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minneapolis woman was sentenced for her role in a deadly crash that killed two women and injured two other people in December 2024.
READ MORE: Minneapolis woman charged in fatal high-speed crash faces additional charges
Woman sentenced in fatal Minneapolis crash
Big picture view:
Prosecutors say Teniki Steward drove a Buick Enclave into a bus shelter and a Ford Explorer after speeding through a red light.
Both of the women in the Ford Explorer died in the crash. They were identified as 53-year-old Ester Jean Fulks and 57-year-old Rose Elaine Reece.
During the crash, the Ford Explorer went off the road, injuring a 17-year-old boy who was waiting for a school bus.
The passenger in Steward’s vehicle also suffered injuries.
Minneapolis police said that Steward was also injured in the crash.
Steward pleaded guilty to multiple murder charges.
What they’re saying:
During the sentencing, the daughter of one of the victims had a statement read on her behalf:
“There’s nothing that can truly prepare you for the moment your entire world is taken from you. Losing my mom has left a pain in my heart that words will never be able to explain.”
What’s next:
Minnesota law requires that Steward serves at least two-thirds of her sentence, a bit under eight-and-a-half years, in prison.
Fatal Emerson and 26th crash
The backstory:
According to the criminal complaint, through surveillance videos from the scene of the crash and witnesses, investigators learned that Steward, driving the Buick Enclave, had been driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Emerson Avenue North.
Before the fatal crash, Steward sped through the intersection of Emerson Avenue North and Broadway Avenue North, running a red light and nearly causing a crash, the charges said.
Steward then continued to speed northbound down Emerson Avenue North, and ran another red light at 26th Avenue North, hitting the Ford Explorer, which was traveling eastbound, according to the complaint.
The Ford Explorer had been at the intersection of Emerson and 26th on a green light.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty shared the following statement:
“This was an egregious act that took Rose and Esther’s lives and injured a child waiting to go to school at a bus stop. Ms. Steward was driving at extremely dangerous speeds on city streets and narrowly avoided multiple collisions before the incident occurred. Third-degree murder charges are appropriate to hold her accountable and protect our community.”
The Source: This story uses information gathered from an Olmsted County court appearance and previous FOX 9 reporting.
A motorcyclist is dead after an early morning crash in Minneapolis Friday morning.
The Minnesota State Patrol said that at 1:20 a.m., a Suzuki Motorcycle going north on I-35W at Johnson Street hit the left side of the median guard rail.
The motorcycle continued north for about another quarter mile before coming to a rest on the right-hand side.
State Patrol said the rider came to rest on the left shoulder. He was later identified as 21-year-old Andrew James Neuberger.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – The Rochester Spartans boys volleyball team played its second game on consecutive nights. The Spartans beat Minneapolis Camden 3-0.
Rochester’s next game will be Tuesday, April 21, at St. Anthony Village at 7:00 p.m.
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