BCA takes over Mpls. police misconduct investigations

Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau
Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau.
Tim Nelson / MPR News File

The Minneapolis Police Department will no longer investigate cases in which one of its officers fires a weapon and someone is injured or killed, Police Chief Janee Harteau said today.

Instead the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will handle those investigations.

The change in policy follows the shooting death of 22-year-old Terrance Franklin in the basement of an Uptown neighborhood home in May. Franklin, who police say was fleeing officers who suspected him of a burglary, was shot 10 times.

A grand jury decided not to bring criminal charges against the police officers involved in the case.

Harteau, who announced the change as she rolled out a department action plan for 2014 that was developed in consultation with a citizen advisory council, said it should help instill more public trust in the department. She also said the change is in line with other department procedures across the state.

"There was concern by members of this council and members of this community as to why Minneapolis continues to investigate their own in critical incidents," she said. "So it definitely played a factor in my decision making."

The department's action plan also calls for including citizens in the process of hiring officers.

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