2 Minneapolis cops on leave after 'despicable' holiday decor

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

2 Minneapolis cops on leave after 'despicable' holiday decor

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MINNEAPOLIS — Nov 30, 2018, 7:56 PM ET

Two Minneapolis police officers were placed on paid leave Friday after their apparent involvement in Christmas tree decorations that the city's mayor called "despicable."

The Christmas tree at a precinct station on the city's North Side was decorated with items such as Newport cigarettes, police crime tape, a can of malt liquor, a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen cup, and other things that Mayor Jacob Frey said amounted to a "racist display." A picture of the tree circulated online before the items were removed.

Frey initially called for the officer involved to be fired by day's end, but later recognized that a process has to be followed. Instead, two officers were placed on paid leave while the department investigates.

"This behavior is racist, despicable, and is well beneath the standards of any person who serves the city of Minneapolis," Frey said in a statement early Friday. "Shifting the culture of the police department requires swift and decisive action. Termination is necessary — both to discipline the officer and to send a clear message: Chief (Medaria) Arradondo and I will not tolerate conduct that departs from our values."

Arradondo called the display "racially insensitive" and said it was removed. He said he has started a full investigation into the incident.

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Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mayor-cop-fired-despicable-christmas-tree-decor-59525034

[MineralMan]

1. Worst of all, that precinct station is located in an area that

is demographically and disproportionately black. It is where people go to file a police report. It is the public face of the Minneapolis PD for that part of the city. So, the mocking by police officers has an even more sinister note to it.

Will those two cops get fired? Hard to say. The Police Federation in Minneapolis is headed up by a singularly bigoted individual. They will fight any such firing tooth and nail.

Keep an eye on this.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. That's why they did it

to exert their "power" of supremacy and disdain and probably as a "protest" for being assigned to what they probably consider the "worst precinct" and/or "bad part of town" or whatever.

(as a sidenote, I have an uncle who has lived in a 'burb of Minneapolis for at least 25+ years and his wife's family is there so am aware of the area)

[MineralMan]

4. Yes, exactly. They are publicly thumbing their noses

at the community they are supposed to serve. However, they may soon find that they have overstepped. The City Council of Minneapolis is more diverse than ever, following recent elections. The Mayor of Minneapolis is a serious progressive, who was deeply angered at this incident. The MPD Police Chief is a black man.

I am hoping that this is the last straw. I'm hoping that there is a thorough restructuring of that department. It is way past being needed.

[pecosbob]

5. We are all being victimized and harassed by a nationwide terrorist group...the police.

Anarchy would be preferable.

[MineralMan]

6. Well, perhaps not all of us. Those with privilege are generally left

alone by the police. And by that, of course, I mean people who are part of the white middle class and above. The enmity the police has is for those who already have little to no privilege, and this incident is a good example of the contempt shown for such people.

Until those with privilege speak up and demand that this stop, it will continue. If we don't care, the police feel free to victimize those without privilege.

I will give you an example. The last time I was stopped by the police was several years ago. I had absent-mindedly treated a traffic signal like a 4-way stop sign. I was thinking about something else, stopped, looked, and then drove on. I was pulled over by a police car immediately. When the police officer came to my car door, he said, "Do you know why I stopped you?" I said, "Yes. I stupidly drove on at that light after stopping. Brain fart." The cop said, "Well, please be more careful, sir."

I was not asked for my license and registration. I was simply cautioned and sent on my way. The cop didn't have his hand on his weapon. He simply asked me a question and cautioned me. I do not imagine that the scenario would have been the same had I been a young black man. In fact, I'm sure it wouldn't.

Privilege.