Minneapolis, MN: Mayor Ryback Announces Own Post-RNC Review

thumpsalot · #1 09-12-2008, 04:56 AM

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Ryback has announced his own post-RNC review, and it appears that (unlike the promised whitewash in St. Paul) it might address some real issues:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Public Radio

Rybak says the convention was a success overall, but he says there are several matters that deserve a closer look. The Minneapolis City Council is also pushing for reviews.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCCO

The evaluation will include a look at security tactics, the appropriateness of arrests, financial impact on the courts and how well law enforcement worked with media.

The review by the police department will focus on the more than 100 arrests that occurred after a Rage Against the Machine concert at the Target Center.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioneer Press

Rybak acknowledged that that the group detained included journalists, and he says officials need to look at such incidents "to make sure that journalists can do their jobs."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Public Radio

Rybak, a former journalist himself, says it's getting harder to define who is and who isn't a journalist.

"There are many people who blog, or video blog, or who are involved in all sorts of areas who aren't as easy to identify," said Rybak. "There are also just simply incidents we always have to look out for, to make sure that journalists can do their jobs. So we want to answer those questions -- see what we learn from this case."

It also appears that the investigators will not be limited to yes men:

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCCO

... will involve the city's police and civil rights departments along with the city attorney's office.

WCCO: Rybak Unveils Details Of Post-RNC Review

Minnesota Public Radio: Rybak calls for review of police actions during RNC

Pioneer Press: Rybak unveils details of post-RNC review

Star Tribune: Now we'll find out how things really went: Mayor R.T. Rybak announces a plan to study security, media relations, arrests and financial impact on courts after the RNC.

thumpsalot · #2 09-25-2008, 08:01 AM

Despite the initial indications that this might be a meaningful investigation, it appears to be withering.

Latest indications are that the Minneapolis police chief is preparing an "action report" and that little else will happen. Attempts by city council members to request investigation of specific area were rebuffed:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Public Radio

"There's some other issues I'd like some information on, and so I put them down here in the form of a staff direction, because I think that's completely appropriate," Gordon said. "In fact, I think it's what I should be doing to do my job as a city council member - is to say, 'Here's the information I need as we go forward in the future and here's some specific things I'd like some more information about.'"

But a majority of the committee disagreed with Gordon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star Tribune

Gordon wants to know more about what prompted a "pre-emptive raid" Aug. 29 at the home of several people police said were planning to commit crimes.

...

"I'm not calling for investigation," Gordon said. "I want an accounting of what happened. I'm doing my due diligence."

Some just seem to have paper bags over their heads:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Public Radio

Council member Paul Ostrow says Gordon's resolution implies that the police department may have done something wrong.

"I personally don't see a need for council action," Ostrow said.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star Tribune

Ostrow continued to defend Dolan, saying he was planning to include such information in his report without the council's prompting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Public Radio

The committee also voted down an attempt to send Gordon's resolution forward to the full council. That means the remaining seven council members will not get a chance to influence the scope of the police after action report.

So it appears the Minneapolis Police Department will whitewash themelves & Ostrow & Co. will be happy with that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star Tribune

Council member Don Samuels also praised Dolan, saying he would support Gordon's motion if the council would agree to name the chief's report, which is to be submitted in October, the "Really A Success" report.

So the conclusion is determined, they just need to figure out how to get there. Thanks for promising your taxpayers a propaganda piece. Why even bother?

Minnesota Public Radio: Minneapolis City Council will not direct police evaluation of RNC

Star Tribune: Question about pre-RNC raid raises hackles: Minneapolis City Council members sparred over a report about policing of the convention.

thumpsalot · #3 09-26-2008, 08:22 AM

An article in City pages confirms that mayor R.T. Rybak has lost interest (if he really had any such interest in the first place) in doing a real investigation:

Quote:

Originally Posted by city Pages

Mayor R.T. Rybak's office suddenly wants very little to do with hosting the RNC, especially those nasty reports of police brutality and journalist arrests.

"They happened in another city," says Rybak's spokesman Jeremy Hanson.

The Minneapolis police that were involved in the events that occurred in St. Paul were under the command of the St. Paul Police Department, he continued. "We don't normally investigate others."

...

"This isn't going to be a formal investigation or comprehensive review," Hanson says. "Mayor Rybak thinks the RNC was a success."

"Just taking orders" has been passé since Nürnberg.

City Pages: Mayor to Arrested Journalists: Drop Dead: Suddenly, the mayor wants nothing to do with hosting the RNC

thumpsalot · #4 09-26-2008, 08:28 AM

Meanwhile, Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan has turned two incidents over to their internal affairs unit for investigation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSTP

He would not give specifics on the incidents, but said at least one involved mace.

KSTP: Mpls. looks into 2 RNC incidents involving police

thumpsalot · #5 09-26-2008, 10:07 AM

Minnesota Public Radio nailed it:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnesota Public Radio

The Minneapolis City Council, according to MPR's Brandt Williams, will get a report on how the police department handled their end of the protests during the Republican National Convention. But the fix may be in since the police department is doing the report and City Council member Paul Ostrow successfully led the the fight to kill an effort by colleague Cam Gordon for a specific accounting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minneapolis City Council member Paul Ostrow quoted by Minnesota Public Radio

"I personally don't see a need for council action," Ostrow said. "I'm going to be blunt about this, because I know what the headlines are going to be, 'City Council calls for investigation of Minneapolis police department.' We don't need an investigation of the Minneapolis police department when the Minneapolis police department is already saying they're moving forward on an After Action report."

Minnesota Public Radio: RNC fallout is not dispersing

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