After much personal reflection and thoughtful discussions with my family and Mayor Frey, I have made the decision that I will not be accepting a new term as chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, Arradondo said. Lesley Stahl: Were you ever worried when they just went out for a walk or went in their car-- w-- that they would be stopped just because of the color of their skin? Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo is set to testify against Derek Chauvin, one of his former officers, in what is being considered a rare move. Arradondo called Floyds death at the time a murder and fired four officers, saying all involved in Floyds death bear the same responsibility. freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ So my buddy asks what Im going to do. Arradondo Condemned Him, but All Cops Are Derek Chauvin Mr. Floyds killing fueled calls for police reform and a pledge by a majority of the City Council to dismantle the department, and since then Chief Arradondo has worked with Mayor Jacob Frey to pass several reforms, including a revamped use-of-force policy. When addressing the Philonise Floyd via CNN reporter Sara Sidner, he was seen taking his hat off, which is generally a sign of respect for the addressee. After the lawsuit was settled by the city out of court for over $800,000, in December 2012, Arrandondo was promoted to head of the Internal Affairs Unit. tn_author: ['alyssa-o', 'anna-d'], But the profession, over many decades, has not leaned in more to our communities to make sure we are not just at the table but a viable participant. In 2007, he filed a lawsuit against the department alleging racism, citing, for instance, a White Power patch worn by Lt. Bob Krolla white Trump ally and former president of the Minneapolis Police Federation. And I take counsel with all different sources, including meeting regularly with groups who have been very critical of policing. And Anthony Junior High Schoolwhich is Anthony Middle School now. targeting:{ That erodes that confidence. , Star Tribune Even while protests broke out across the country over George Floyd's death, another black man was shot by a white officer in Atlanta, and 24 hours later, the Atlanta police chief resigned. Since weve already determined that this is the beginning of the end for you at the MPD, have you ever considered whats next? Does that bother you? let gads_event; [16], During a 60 Minutes interview with Lesley Stahl which aired on June 21, 2020, Arradondo stated that there was distrust of law enforcement in Minneapolis's black community and that "we need good policing. Arradondo, the city's first Black police chief, was promoted in 2017 following the firing of his predecessor for her handling of the fatal police shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, who . "They all unequivocally agreed that, that was the right decision to do," Arradondo said in a recorded interview with agents from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and the FBI. He will not mince any words. ga('ads.send', { Chauvin and former officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane have pleaded not guilty to federal civil rights charges stemming from Floyds death. Among the many considerations facing Arradondo was weighing the potential fallout from firing the officers so quickly after the incident, Belton said. I know the staff over there really welllove that place. But we also have to attack and address the systemic challenges and barriers that exist in that. Brandon Stahl The officer was charged with manslaughter, but was acquitted. Lesley Stahl: And you have suspended the negotiations. magazine_button_url_382199 = 'https://www.thenation.com/email-signup-module-donate/'; What do police get wrong about their communities? Chief Medaria Arradondo: I, as chief am-- am stepping away from that. inline_cta_url_382199 = 'https://www.thenation.com/donate-website?utm_medium=website&utm_source=Website&utm_campaign=june-appeal&sourceid=1066666&ms=post-inline&utm_content=post-inline'; Here are five things to know about the man who is now in the national spotlight: According to the Star Tribune,Arradondo talked about the weight of his responsibility when he took over the job in 2017, becoming Minneapolis' first Black police chief. Chief Arradondo testified in the trial of Mohamed Noor, the officer who was convicted of murder after he fatally shot Justine Ruszczyk in 2017, MPR News reported. Anyone can read what you share. magazine_button_url_382199 = 'https://subscriptions.thenation.com/Nation_index?pk=G2A1CLT'; 2023 Cable News Network. That erodes that public trust. To be able to have the chief of police to under oath testify is clearly going to be of importance.". What do communities get wrong about their police? And, and that cuts to the very core of why we have, uh, distrust in our communities, quite frankly. Arradondo was chief when Floyd died while in police custody on May 25, 2020. It isnt monolithic. The 30-year law enforcement veteran said a police chief in Michigan first mentored him, telling him "people are going to kind of look at you a little bit differently.. Theres not one seven-foot bronze statue honoring any of those chiefs, and there wont be one for me. whatever happened. if( magazine_button_text_382199 !='' ){ } We spoke with the chief remotely, discussing the events of May 25, the video that ignited it all and the police response, which started with a lie. cta_2_check_382199 = true; In order to comment, you must be logged in as a paid subscriber. I was sitting in my senior history class, and I was talking to a buddy, and there was a guy seated between us, asleep. Historical Amnesia About Slavery Is a Tool of White Supremacy. That would not be anything I'd condone or was anything intended in-- in-- in that particular policy that you read there. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. I-- I grew up a block away from where he died. His uncle was the dean of the criminal justice program at Suomi College and was the chief of police. Chief Medaria Arradondo: It is problematic, absolutely. In fact, save for a brief stint walking the airport beat in the late 1980s, the chief has spent his whole adult life working for the hometown squad. The first day of the second week of the trial has ended. Medaria Arradondo from tree Hernandez Family Tree. Chief Medaria Arradondo: Yeah, yeah. "That part of giving back to this city will always be there for me and it's such an honor," he said. Lesley Stahl: So that was a policy that night. The contract has allowed officers who are fired or disciplined to bring that to arbitration. jQuery("#inline_cta_btn_382199 a input").css("color",inline_cta_font_color_382199); inline_cta_2_button_text_382199 = ''; ", 'Very open to the idea': Julia Wandelt takes DNA test to verify if she is missing Swiss girl Livia Schepp, Kayla Lemieux: Teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts suspended WITH PAY after pics show her dressed as man, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims, Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant, Lindsay Clancy case: Psychologist reveals psychosis red flags family members could have spotted. If you lose that, you may never repair it, may never get that back., Send this article to anyone, no subscription is necessary to view it, Anyone can read, no subscription required, See From their makeshift stage in Powderhorn Park last summer, Minneapolis City Council members pledged to begin the process of ending the Minneapolis Police Department. Council member Andrew Johnson later told The New York Times he meant the words in spirit, not by the letter. In December, the City Council voted to shift just $8 million of the MPDs $179 million budget. On it, MLKs portrait hangs below handmade signs: our ancestors are watching } If we have even one who is allowed to come back that sets us back. ". It occurs. He decided he wanted to help change that, and after joining the department in 1989 has risen through the ranks to become the departments assistant chief and second-in-command. In his later interview with the BCA and the FBI, Arradondo recalled that he hadn't yet made his final decision, but asked the officials gathered about what they thought about firing Chauvin and the other three officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao, the documents said. In terminating the officers less than 24 hours after Floyd's death, Arradondo moved more quickly and decisively than his predecessors, who in some cases waited weeks or months to discipline officers for alleged misconduct and even then only after intense public pressure. ", "If I could do anything to bring Mr. Floyd back, I would do that," he said. And the other guy rose from his slumber and said, You know, Ive got an uncle who teaches at this school up in Michigan; I can bring you some information.. You were born and raised in the city of your badge. Q&A: Minneapolis Chief of Police Medaria Arradondo. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Arradondo, dressed in a pale blue police uniform, is the second witness of the day in Courtroom 1856. Arradondo said Monday his decision to retire was based on time and not Floyds murder. But in the case of George Floyd's death from police brutality, the police chief will be speaking out against another (former) member of law enforcement. Sign up for our free daily newsletter, along with occasional offers for programs that support our journalism. And I did not see a whole lot of officers who looked like me. While Chief Jane Harteau remains out of public view on what a spokesperson called a personal, pre-scheduled trip, Arradondo nicknamed Rondo has been the face of the MPD during the aftermath of the Justine Damond shooting, whose killing by officer Mohamed Noor has made international headlines. what happened to medaria arradondo head injury cta_1_check_382199 = true; I used to moonlight there Friday nights. tn_loc:'atf' inline_cta_2_text_382199 = '

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'; In Seattle, police used tear gas multiple timesduring a respiratory pandemicbefore Chief Carmen Best temporarily banned it. var inline_cta_2_bg_color_382199 = ''; The plaza is quiet. The men and women who come to do this work have different political views, families, and the same stressors in life that we all have.