Arbitration has been set for October 8th, 2007 at 9 AM.
RE: TEAMSTERS LOCAL 320 AND HENNEPIN COUNTY BMS CASE #06PA0844 (HOROBIN #3234)
This is a case involving an SRT cell extraction that resulted in a 10 day suspension. It is the Union's opinion there is no just cause.
THIS IS AN OFFICIAL NEWS SITE FOR CURRENT AND RETIRED CORRECTIONS OFFICERS! This blog will keep up on current events affecting Detention Deputies and Corrections Officers. SINCE 2006!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Monday, August 06, 2007
Protesters Have Lawyers, You Should Too
The Star Tribune is reporting:
A small armada of corporate attorneys, many of them partners in the area's most prestigious law firms, have begun meeting and strategizing ways to defend thousands of protesters expected to flock to the Twin Cities next September. And not for $500 an hour, but for free.
Pro bono, or volunteer, work is common for attorneys, but observers are impressed by this effort, which was mobilized by the Minnesota affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Don't be alarmed, be prepared. All full dues paying Detention Deputy members of Teamsters Local 320 are protected by Team Legal. The fallout from mass arrests could persist a long time after the 2008 RNC ends.
A small armada of corporate attorneys, many of them partners in the area's most prestigious law firms, have begun meeting and strategizing ways to defend thousands of protesters expected to flock to the Twin Cities next September. And not for $500 an hour, but for free.
Pro bono, or volunteer, work is common for attorneys, but observers are impressed by this effort, which was mobilized by the Minnesota affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Don't be alarmed, be prepared. All full dues paying Detention Deputy members of Teamsters Local 320 are protected by Team Legal. The fallout from mass arrests could persist a long time after the 2008 RNC ends.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
On Vacation
I will be on vacation 8/5 through 8/16. In my absence if you need a steward contact one of these stewards:
Phil Miles
Ted Westerdahl
Ashley Horobin
Mike Nielson
Tech Steward: Rick Kuster
Phil Miles
Ted Westerdahl
Ashley Horobin
Mike Nielson
Tech Steward: Rick Kuster
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
2008 RNC Welcoming Committee-ANARCHIST
This is from a myspace site http://www.myspace.com/rnc2008welcomingcommittee
This is what we can look forward to!
The RNC Welcoming Committee is an anarchist/anti-authoritarian organizing body formed to prepare for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The RNC-WC, composed primarily of Twin Cities-based anarchists and anti-authoritarians, will function as an informational clearinghouse and organize a spokescouncil for RNC resistance. We will coordinate logistics (food, housing, transportation), and engage in education and outreach.
Without falling prey to the centralized, hierarchical tendencies that have dominated such convergences in the past, we hope that the RNC-WC will maintain a unified, anti-authoritarian presence at the 2008 RNC. Our numbers are huge, and it’s time that our actions reflected that. Following are our points of unity. We invite all individuals and groups committed to these ideas to participate in the Welcoming Committee. Those who work with the RNC Welcoming Committee must agree to:
1. A rejection of Capitalism, Imperialism, and the State;
2. Resist the commodification of our shared and living Earth;
3. Organize on the principles of decentralization, autonomy, sustainability, and mutual aid.
4. Work to end all relationships of domination and subjugation, including but not limited to those rooted in patriarchy, race, class, and homophobia;
5. Oppose the police and prison-industrial complex, and maintain solidarity with all targets of state repression;
6. Directly confront systems of oppression, and respect the need for a diversity of tactics.Though the RNC-WC is focused on a specific event, we hope that our work transcends the convention by contributing to the development of anti-authoritarian movements and mutual aid networks both locally and globally. We are no more opposed to the Republican Party than we are to the Democratic Party. Affiliations and labels aside, we invite all who share our vision to join us in resistance.
These You Tube Videos are meant to educate you about anarchy and for your enjoyment.
This is what we can look forward to!
The RNC Welcoming Committee is an anarchist/anti-authoritarian organizing body formed to prepare for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The RNC-WC, composed primarily of Twin Cities-based anarchists and anti-authoritarians, will function as an informational clearinghouse and organize a spokescouncil for RNC resistance. We will coordinate logistics (food, housing, transportation), and engage in education and outreach.
Without falling prey to the centralized, hierarchical tendencies that have dominated such convergences in the past, we hope that the RNC-WC will maintain a unified, anti-authoritarian presence at the 2008 RNC. Our numbers are huge, and it’s time that our actions reflected that. Following are our points of unity. We invite all individuals and groups committed to these ideas to participate in the Welcoming Committee. Those who work with the RNC Welcoming Committee must agree to:
1. A rejection of Capitalism, Imperialism, and the State;
2. Resist the commodification of our shared and living Earth;
3. Organize on the principles of decentralization, autonomy, sustainability, and mutual aid.
4. Work to end all relationships of domination and subjugation, including but not limited to those rooted in patriarchy, race, class, and homophobia;
5. Oppose the police and prison-industrial complex, and maintain solidarity with all targets of state repression;
6. Directly confront systems of oppression, and respect the need for a diversity of tactics.Though the RNC-WC is focused on a specific event, we hope that our work transcends the convention by contributing to the development of anti-authoritarian movements and mutual aid networks both locally and globally. We are no more opposed to the Republican Party than we are to the Democratic Party. Affiliations and labels aside, we invite all who share our vision to join us in resistance.
These You Tube Videos are meant to educate you about anarchy and for your enjoyment.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Uniform Update
*Important*
Inspector Cooper has issued a memo stating that detention personnel have until "February 28, 2008 to comply with wearing all black leather gear..."
Our contract states:
"Article 32, Section 2.If the basic clothing provided by the EMPLOYER is changed in type, color or style by order of the EMPLOYER, the EMPLOYER will bear any replacement cost in excess of $65.00 per calendar year, the employee to be responsible for the first $65.00 of replacement cost."
The Union's position in conformance to the contract is that the employer is to pay 100% of costs for employees under one year and detention techs, and all but the first $65 for all detention deputies who have completed one year. THIS INCLUDES SHOES! Also note the contract says "replacement," not dye.
While inspector Cooper's memo does not state what the revised policy is, I would advise our members to hold off on switching to black leather until we are sure the new policy conforms to our Agreement with Hennepin County.
Inspector Cooper has issued a memo stating that detention personnel have until "February 28, 2008 to comply with wearing all black leather gear..."
Our contract states:
"Article 32, Section 2.If the basic clothing provided by the EMPLOYER is changed in type, color or style by order of the EMPLOYER, the EMPLOYER will bear any replacement cost in excess of $65.00 per calendar year, the employee to be responsible for the first $65.00 of replacement cost."
The Union's position in conformance to the contract is that the employer is to pay 100% of costs for employees under one year and detention techs, and all but the first $65 for all detention deputies who have completed one year. THIS INCLUDES SHOES! Also note the contract says "replacement," not dye.
While inspector Cooper's memo does not state what the revised policy is, I would advise our members to hold off on switching to black leather until we are sure the new policy conforms to our Agreement with Hennepin County.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Staffing-A Meeting With The Sheriff
We've all been hearing the talk of trimming back staff due to the huge amount of overtime. Over the last week I've had a couple of talks with the Captain, asked them to raise the 16 hour overtime cap to 20 (Inspector Cooper just approved this) and Teamsters 320 has mailed the Administration and the County a letter stating that cut backs in staff would be an officer safety issue.
Today I sat down with Sheriff Stanek and Senior Policy Advisor John Cooney. The talk was productive. I stressed officer safety and I came armed with our schedules which showed exactly why and where the overtime is being used. We have several employees on active military duty and these spots must be covered, this is out of our control. We have a couple of employees temporarily assigned to water patrol, the Sheriff says they're coming back, but one of the biggest chunks of our overtime seems to be "unfunded beds." That's because when the County Board decided to operate two facilities rather then one they never provided the Sheriff's Office with the funds to operate quads two and three. The reality is our counts are above 800 and frequently above the 841 beds we have, including using quads two and three. The solution is not to run thin, but to increase the number of detention deputies to reflect the reality of the count.
I used this example, when you cut the number of cops on the street, crime and incidents go up, and the majority of citizens are not criminals. All of the jail's inmates are criminals, if you cut staff, assaults will increase between inmates, assaults will increase on staff, and liability will increase for the county.
The Sheriff asked me what I would do. I said I'd tell tell the County Board to give us the staff to run quads two and three without overtime. If they didn't, I'd close them down and return to the policy of releasing all non-violent misdemeanors no bail required. Then when the downtown business owner complained that the aggressive panhandler arrested five hours earlier was back in front of his shop I'd direct him to the County Board to provide the funding so we can keep them off of the streets.
The Sheriff is not quite as aggressive as I am on this approach, he's not ready to close down quads two and three, but said he is going to the Board requesting 30 more staff.
All in all I think he and Mr. Cooney were receptive to our concerns. Let's hope the County Board is.
Today I sat down with Sheriff Stanek and Senior Policy Advisor John Cooney. The talk was productive. I stressed officer safety and I came armed with our schedules which showed exactly why and where the overtime is being used. We have several employees on active military duty and these spots must be covered, this is out of our control. We have a couple of employees temporarily assigned to water patrol, the Sheriff says they're coming back, but one of the biggest chunks of our overtime seems to be "unfunded beds." That's because when the County Board decided to operate two facilities rather then one they never provided the Sheriff's Office with the funds to operate quads two and three. The reality is our counts are above 800 and frequently above the 841 beds we have, including using quads two and three. The solution is not to run thin, but to increase the number of detention deputies to reflect the reality of the count.
I used this example, when you cut the number of cops on the street, crime and incidents go up, and the majority of citizens are not criminals. All of the jail's inmates are criminals, if you cut staff, assaults will increase between inmates, assaults will increase on staff, and liability will increase for the county.
The Sheriff asked me what I would do. I said I'd tell tell the County Board to give us the staff to run quads two and three without overtime. If they didn't, I'd close them down and return to the policy of releasing all non-violent misdemeanors no bail required. Then when the downtown business owner complained that the aggressive panhandler arrested five hours earlier was back in front of his shop I'd direct him to the County Board to provide the funding so we can keep them off of the streets.
The Sheriff is not quite as aggressive as I am on this approach, he's not ready to close down quads two and three, but said he is going to the Board requesting 30 more staff.
All in all I think he and Mr. Cooney were receptive to our concerns. Let's hope the County Board is.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
When People Are Prosecuted Falsely
Are people ever prosecuted falsely? Well in the Duke case not only did the three accused get off but the over zealous prosecutor is now sitting in a court room. Why? Weak evidence:Benjamin W. Himan, the Durham detective who was lead investigator on the case, said in testimony for the ethics prosecutors on Tuesday that Mr. Nifong had acknowledged to him that the case was weak and relied on the word of a woman hired to strip at a lacrosse team party.
Could this happen in Hennepin County to our employees? The answer is yes. It happened to a couple of our own detention deputies a few years ago when the Sheriff's Office violated their federal Garrity rights. See
State of Minnesota, Appellant,
vs.
Shelly Ann Gault, Respondent,
Peter Stuart Zielke, Respondent.
Speaking of the elephant in the room, another one of our own has been out since November. As of the writing of this posting he has yet to even enter a plea. Over zealous prosecution on the part of the Sheriff's Office? Time will tell. It all seems, like the Duke case, to ride on the word of an unreliable witness and the Sheriff's Office does have a history of going overboard.
Could this happen in Hennepin County to our employees? The answer is yes. It happened to a couple of our own detention deputies a few years ago when the Sheriff's Office violated their federal Garrity rights. See
State of Minnesota, Appellant,
vs.
Shelly Ann Gault, Respondent,
Peter Stuart Zielke, Respondent.
Speaking of the elephant in the room, another one of our own has been out since November. As of the writing of this posting he has yet to even enter a plea. Over zealous prosecution on the part of the Sheriff's Office? Time will tell. It all seems, like the Duke case, to ride on the word of an unreliable witness and the Sheriff's Office does have a history of going overboard.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Preferential Treatment For Paris Hilton & Other Celebs?
The city attorney whose office prosecuted her case, Rocky Delgadillo, said it was a case of preferential treatment for a celebrity. He asked the judge to order Ms. Hilton back to jail and asked the sheriff’s department to show why it should not be held in contempt of court for letting her go in the first place.
Read the whole story in the New York Times
Read the whole story in the New York Times
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Learning crowd control from the German's as we approach the RNC
G-8 Rioting Has Germans Second Guessing Policing Strategy
By Charles Hawley in Berlin
By Charles Hawley in Berlin
Is it possible to avoid violence at the G-8? For years, police in Europe have been trying to perfect their riot-control strategies. But Saturday's rioting in Rostock has the Germans questioning what they've learned.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Your help needed!
Detention Deputy Burnham has been out on medical leave. As she is a fairly new employee her sick time is exhausted. You can donate vacation for sick time to help her along. She may not be back until the end of July. If everyone donated only a couple of hours it would pull her through.
The forms are in a red folder on the bulletin board.
The forms are in a red folder on the bulletin board.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Watch Your Computer Use-They Are!
This week I had the misfortune of sitting with a member who received a day off for using a computer for non-work related use. I cannot stress enough that you will not win this fight. The computers are the employers property and the employer has made it clear their computers are for work use only. Misuse can lead to discipline.
The employer can discipline you only for "just cause."
Some elements of just cause are:
Was the work rule clear.
Was the employee aware of the rule.
Was the employee warned before.
As far as computer use for non-work activities goes, no one working in the jail can say they don't know the rule. If you are disciplined it will stick and the only thing the Union can do for you is to make sure your discipline is consistent with others who have done the same thing.
Fox TV had an interesting piece on this. (Click Here)
People have lost jobs over this.
The employer can discipline you only for "just cause."
Some elements of just cause are:
Was the work rule clear.
Was the employee aware of the rule.
Was the employee warned before.
As far as computer use for non-work activities goes, no one working in the jail can say they don't know the rule. If you are disciplined it will stick and the only thing the Union can do for you is to make sure your discipline is consistent with others who have done the same thing.
Fox TV had an interesting piece on this. (Click Here)
People have lost jobs over this.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Sheriff Stanek Replies to KMSP TV
Click here for Sheriff Stanek's reply to KMSP TV's reports in the previous blog.
The point of interest to us is the Sheriff's willingness to waive the 16 hour work rule. A rule heavily enforced on those of us making far less money then Sen. Ortman and more dependent on overtime.
The point of interest to us is the Sheriff's willingness to waive the 16 hour work rule. A rule heavily enforced on those of us making far less money then Sen. Ortman and more dependent on overtime.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Conflict in the front office?
Channel 9 has an interesting piece on our new Financial Officer Sen. Julianne Ortman
Click Here
Combine this with our former Lobbyist Ryan Griffin featured here.
Together this makes for some very interesting news.
Click Here
Combine this with our former Lobbyist Ryan Griffin featured here.
Together this makes for some very interesting news.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
On Merkel
AFSCME forwarded the following letter to me at home:
I am pleased to announce the selection of Tom Merkel as the new Corrections Director, effective May 21st. Tom has a long and distinguished career in criminal justice with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a law degree. Tom has served as the Inspector in charge of Adult Detention in the Sheriff's Office since July, 2001. Prior to that he was the Deputy Director of Corrections in Shawnee County, Kansas. Please join me in welcoming Tom into his new responsibilities.
Richard P. Johnson Acting County Administrator
They wanted to know what we thought of him. I know that under his hand discipline was very heavy handed. Prior to his arrival if someone made a mistake they might get a letter of reprimand, if it was bad maybe a day off, if severe (and rare) a three day suspension. Under Inspector Merkel, 6 and 10 day suspensions were common. This was a man who once fired a woman just for filing a workers comp claim when he was Deputy Director in Kansas.
The following day, August 21, 1998, Major Thomas Merkel, the jail administrator, telephoned the claimant and terminated claimant supposedly for reasons not related to her worker's compensation claim. Claimant filed a grievance in reference to the termination and was reinstated to her job on September 22, 1998. (McCall v. Shawnee County)
We haven't seen the last of him though. He will be subpoenaed to be at an arbitration regarding a 10 day suspension of an SRT member and over the breakfast issue. I do hope his replacement is a little more employee conscious. If you take the time to read the 2006 annual report it says that employee retention is a problem and that it's cheaper to retain employees then to continuously hire and train new ones. The ball's in their court.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Sheriff's Office Must Change Tactics To Handle Protesters
We've all received the memo informing us that all days off and vacations will be cancelled during the Republican National Convention.
Sheriff Fletcher in Ramsey County is preparing and planning on 3,000 arrests.He has asked their county board for 3.9 million in protester related costs including $550,000 for a possible open-air, fenced detention facility to hold protesters next to the Ramsey County Workhouse; $1.7 million for overtime, and $62,000 for biohazard decontamination equipment. (Source: Star Tribune).
Us? The Hennepin County Board has yet to ask for a convention budget, and the Sheriff's Office has not yet developed one, said Sheriff Rich Stanek. He said he was unaware of protest arrest estimates in Minneapolis.
My concern is less the budget then our policies. The current Sheriff's Office policy of writing a full fledged use of force incident report anytime we touch an inmate will be crippling in a mass arrest situation. Imagine this, a bus with sixty protesters arrives. They refuse to walk and we have to carry them. Now imagine the man hours wasted as multiple detention deputies write individual use of force reports on all sixty inmates! That bus will take hours to be emptied under current policy. Of course if we don't follow Inspector Merkel's memo that requires reports for any physical contact, and an arrestee complains, the staff is subject to discipline.
As I see it, either we had better quadruple the intake staff to accommodate the report writing, or go back to making only a behavior note entry unless directed by a supervisor to write a report. How many times have we been told that the intake video is documentation to protect us? The Sheriff's Office should use it as that, let us quit typing redundant reports, and let us get back to the job of booking in inmates.
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Elephant In The Room
I have refrained from comment on the ongoing case involving our fellow detention deputy for the very fact it is an ongoing investigation. However, I will say that I believe he will land on his feet. This is also an example of what it means to be a union member. While the employer puts you on the spot, you have the union to represent your interest during internal investigation, and Team Legal to provide the best lawyers in the state for your criminal defense. All with your interest in mind. Anyone of us, at any time, can be traveling down this road because of the accusation of an inmate. We only need look as far as Philander Jenkins to see how much trouble one lie can cause. So the next time someone says, What does the union do for us." Reply, "We have your back."
Saturday, March 03, 2007
House Passes Employee Free Choice Act in Spite of Hostile Campaign Resembling Unionbusting
WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last ditch efforts by
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the final days before yesterday's vote on
the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) failed to stop the U.S. House of
Representatives from passing the labor law reform legislation. Some 241
members, including 13 Republicans, supported the bill. "Hard-line business
groups were tripping over each other and sparing no expense to bully
lawmakers, misinform the public, and oppose free choice for workers," says
American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell.
In a relentless effort to defeat the bill, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
purchased radio ads in 51 districts to target lawmakers. In an article
earlier this week about the expensive ad buy, Congress Daily quoted a U.S.
Chamber spokesperson who said, "We're making people feel pain."
In the weeks preceding the House floor vote, a well-financed and
coordinated message machine that included industry associations and
right-wing think tanks flooded the public debate with misinformation about
the bill's provisions. Conservative pundit George Will was a late recruit
to help obscure the existence of employer coercion during union organizing
campaigns.
"House members got a taste of the relentless attacks workers endure
every day when they stand up for themselves and support unions," says
Maxwell. "Can you imagine how a nurse with kids to feed feels when faced
with this kind of intimidation? This is exactly why workers need the
Employee Free Choice Act."
Concludes Maxwell, "Hardworking men and women can celebrate today
because Congress stood up for them and American democracy."
American Rights at Work (http://www.americanrightsatwork.org) is a leading
labor policy and advocacy organization. For more information on how
opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act are misinforming the public,
visit: http://www.antiunionnetwork.org.
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Related links:
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org
http://www.antiunionnetwork.org
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the final days before yesterday's vote on
the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) failed to stop the U.S. House of
Representatives from passing the labor law reform legislation. Some 241
members, including 13 Republicans, supported the bill. "Hard-line business
groups were tripping over each other and sparing no expense to bully
lawmakers, misinform the public, and oppose free choice for workers," says
American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell.
In a relentless effort to defeat the bill, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
purchased radio ads in 51 districts to target lawmakers. In an article
earlier this week about the expensive ad buy, Congress Daily quoted a U.S.
Chamber spokesperson who said, "We're making people feel pain."
In the weeks preceding the House floor vote, a well-financed and
coordinated message machine that included industry associations and
right-wing think tanks flooded the public debate with misinformation about
the bill's provisions. Conservative pundit George Will was a late recruit
to help obscure the existence of employer coercion during union organizing
campaigns.
"House members got a taste of the relentless attacks workers endure
every day when they stand up for themselves and support unions," says
Maxwell. "Can you imagine how a nurse with kids to feed feels when faced
with this kind of intimidation? This is exactly why workers need the
Employee Free Choice Act."
Concludes Maxwell, "Hardworking men and women can celebrate today
because Congress stood up for them and American democracy."
American Rights at Work (http://www.americanrightsatwork.org) is a leading
labor policy and advocacy organization. For more information on how
opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act are misinforming the public,
visit: http://www.antiunionnetwork.org.
s.server=server()
s.channel="News Release"
s.pageName="House Passes Employee Free Choice Act in Spite of Hostile Campaign Resembling Unionbusting"
s.prop2="104"
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Related links:
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org
http://www.antiunionnetwork.org
City of Minneapolis should apologize to Lt. Kroll!
Minneapolis P.D. Lt. Kroll is in hot water for allegedly referring to Congressman Keith Ellison as a terrorist. The Star Tribune is reporting that during a required ethics class Lt. Kroll implied that U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison is a terrorist. The article goes on to say: Chief Tim Dolan sent an e-mail to all employees saying the comments were unacceptable and unflattering to the department. Dolan also issued a public apology to Ellison, a Democrat from Minneapolis and the first Muslim elected to Congress.
What! First of all Keith Ellison is a public figure. As such anyone can comment on him. This is First Amendment protected speech. The same speech that allows an anti-Bush person to call the President a baby killer for invading Iraq (that no one apologizes for). Secondly, Mr. Ellison was a member of Louis Farrakahn's, anti-Semitic & anti-white racist organization the Nation of Islam. He also is associated with, and received campaign money from the Hamas connected organization CAIR. The U.S. government considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization. Ellison is also a cry baby who called the police on a fellow congressman for smoking.
The Tribune goes on quoting Ellison: On Thursday, Ellison said: "The alleged comments don't reflect the diversity of our city, or the warm embracing attitudes of those who live in the Fifth District. I'm grateful to Mayor Rybak and Chief Dolan for setting the right tone. The alleged comments don't reflect the Minneapolis Police Department, who I respect as well."
In my opinion Rybak & Dolan are cowards for apologizing to Ellison, and Ellison's comment that he respects the Minneapolis Police Department is a lie. Ellison's problems with the MPD including his association with local gangsters the likes of Shariff Willis during the murder of police officer Jerry Haaf are well known. He's also been booked into the county jail himself!
The bottom line is this. Ellison is a public figure. Ellison associates with, and receives money from organizations with ties to terrorists. Ellison was a member of a racist organization (the Nation of Islam is every bit as racist as the KKK). Ellison is an associate of criminals, criminals that have murdered Minneapolis' own officers. Lt. Kroll is entitled to speak his mind about a public figure. I believe Minneapolis Mayor Rybak and police Chief Dolan owe the citizens of Minneapolis an apology for their anti-American, anti first amendment conduct. In short, the City of Minneapolis should apologize to Lt. Kroll.
What! First of all Keith Ellison is a public figure. As such anyone can comment on him. This is First Amendment protected speech. The same speech that allows an anti-Bush person to call the President a baby killer for invading Iraq (that no one apologizes for). Secondly, Mr. Ellison was a member of Louis Farrakahn's, anti-Semitic & anti-white racist organization the Nation of Islam. He also is associated with, and received campaign money from the Hamas connected organization CAIR. The U.S. government considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization. Ellison is also a cry baby who called the police on a fellow congressman for smoking.
The Tribune goes on quoting Ellison: On Thursday, Ellison said: "The alleged comments don't reflect the diversity of our city, or the warm embracing attitudes of those who live in the Fifth District. I'm grateful to Mayor Rybak and Chief Dolan for setting the right tone. The alleged comments don't reflect the Minneapolis Police Department, who I respect as well."
In my opinion Rybak & Dolan are cowards for apologizing to Ellison, and Ellison's comment that he respects the Minneapolis Police Department is a lie. Ellison's problems with the MPD including his association with local gangsters the likes of Shariff Willis during the murder of police officer Jerry Haaf are well known. He's also been booked into the county jail himself!
The bottom line is this. Ellison is a public figure. Ellison associates with, and receives money from organizations with ties to terrorists. Ellison was a member of a racist organization (the Nation of Islam is every bit as racist as the KKK). Ellison is an associate of criminals, criminals that have murdered Minneapolis' own officers. Lt. Kroll is entitled to speak his mind about a public figure. I believe Minneapolis Mayor Rybak and police Chief Dolan owe the citizens of Minneapolis an apology for their anti-American, anti first amendment conduct. In short, the City of Minneapolis should apologize to Lt. Kroll.
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