[On May 1, 2019, Governor Walz ordered a report on the BCA's initial
mishandling of the investigation into the killing of Justine Ruszczyk and
additional questions about the BCA's investigation that came up during the
trial of Mohamed Noor for that killing. Here's a description of my so far
futile efforts to find out the results of the report the Governor requested.]
Shortly after the conviction of Mohamed Noor for the killing of Justine
Ruszczyk, MPR reported on May 1, 2019, that Governor Walz "said his office is
collecting information and that he'd asked for a report as accusations of poor
work by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) surfaced." That "poor work"
allegation stemmed from public comments by Hennepin County Attorney Mike
Freeman that the initial investigation by the BCA was less than adequate. He
later said that when new agents were put on the case, the work was "exemplary."
During the trial itself, other questions were raised about the adequacy of the
BCA's investigation, which, along with Freeman's public comments, led to the
Governor calling for a report.
On January 3, 2020, figuring I could get an answer before the start of the
legislative session, I inquired of the Governor's office about whatever
happened as a result of his publicly announced call for a report of the BCA's
work in that case. Did he get such a report? Was it public? If so, where might
I access it?
I have yet to receive an answer. First I was referred to the Department of
Public Safety (the department in which the BCA is housed), then to the BCA,
then back to the DPS Commissioner's office, then to the DPS Communications
office. Being referred to a communications office is, of course, the kiss of
death, and I should have taken that as a sure sign that I was at a dead end. As
with most communications offices, the DPS Communications office never responded
to my phone calls or emails. I went back to the Commissioner's office, then was
referred to a Deputy Commissioner, who also did not respond. Finally, I was
referred back to the Governor's office, which was where I should have been all
along. After all, the Governor was the one who had requested the report, so he
was the one who would know if the report was delivered.
By then, it was near the end of January or early in February. Next I got mixed
messages from a number of the Governor's staff people, one of whom referred me
back to the DPS, telling me the Governor is not responsible for the conduct of
local police officers or sheriffs. What?! I wasn't asking about the conduct of
local police officers or sheriffs. I was asking about the results of an
investigation the Governor himself had ordered.
Finally, I was put in touch with the Governor's Public Engagement Liaison. She
wrote me she'd look into it and get back to me. That was on February 18.
Hearing nothing, I went in person to the Governor's office on March 11, 13, and
14, but the liaison was not available. I wrote requesting an appointment,
adding: "This shouldn't be hard to find out. Either the Governor found out
nothing, or he found out something. If the latter, either what he found out is
public or it isn't. If the former, then it's either accessible somewhere to the
public or it isn't. That's all I am trying to find out: basically a follow-up
on what the Governor learned after he went public and announced he was going to
look into this."
Then COVID-19 hit, and I thought I should wait before calling the Governor's
office again about this unrelated issue. But when the Governor expressed public
concerns about police-related matters following the killing of George Floyd, I
renewed my request. So far, silence.
Why is this particularly important now? Attorney General Keith Ellison is
relying on the BCA to do the investigation into the killing of George Floyd.
Some people don't trust the BCA to investigate police officers. It is more
important than ever now that we find out what that Walz-ordered investigation
of the BCA more than a year ago turned up.
Governor Walz gives an impression of forthrightness and transparency. On this
relatively simple inquiry of his office, my personal experience has been the
opposite.
Chuck Turchick
Minneapolis
mishandling of the investigation into the killing of Justine Ruszczyk and
additional questions about the BCA's investigation that came up during the
trial of Mohamed Noor for that killing. Here's a description of my so far
futile efforts to find out the results of the report the Governor requested.]
Shortly after the conviction of Mohamed Noor for the killing of Justine
Ruszczyk, MPR reported on May 1, 2019, that Governor Walz "said his office is
collecting information and that he'd asked for a report as accusations of poor
work by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) surfaced." That "poor work"
allegation stemmed from public comments by Hennepin County Attorney Mike
Freeman that the initial investigation by the BCA was less than adequate. He
later said that when new agents were put on the case, the work was "exemplary."
During the trial itself, other questions were raised about the adequacy of the
BCA's investigation, which, along with Freeman's public comments, led to the
Governor calling for a report.
On January 3, 2020, figuring I could get an answer before the start of the
legislative session, I inquired of the Governor's office about whatever
happened as a result of his publicly announced call for a report of the BCA's
work in that case. Did he get such a report? Was it public? If so, where might
I access it?
I have yet to receive an answer. First I was referred to the Department of
Public Safety (the department in which the BCA is housed), then to the BCA,
then back to the DPS Commissioner's office, then to the DPS Communications
office. Being referred to a communications office is, of course, the kiss of
death, and I should have taken that as a sure sign that I was at a dead end. As
with most communications offices, the DPS Communications office never responded
to my phone calls or emails. I went back to the Commissioner's office, then was
referred to a Deputy Commissioner, who also did not respond. Finally, I was
referred back to the Governor's office, which was where I should have been all
along. After all, the Governor was the one who had requested the report, so he
was the one who would know if the report was delivered.
By then, it was near the end of January or early in February. Next I got mixed
messages from a number of the Governor's staff people, one of whom referred me
back to the DPS, telling me the Governor is not responsible for the conduct of
local police officers or sheriffs. What?! I wasn't asking about the conduct of
local police officers or sheriffs. I was asking about the results of an
investigation the Governor himself had ordered.
Finally, I was put in touch with the Governor's Public Engagement Liaison. She
wrote me she'd look into it and get back to me. That was on February 18.
Hearing nothing, I went in person to the Governor's office on March 11, 13, and
14, but the liaison was not available. I wrote requesting an appointment,
adding: "This shouldn't be hard to find out. Either the Governor found out
nothing, or he found out something. If the latter, either what he found out is
public or it isn't. If the former, then it's either accessible somewhere to the
public or it isn't. That's all I am trying to find out: basically a follow-up
on what the Governor learned after he went public and announced he was going to
look into this."
Then COVID-19 hit, and I thought I should wait before calling the Governor's
office again about this unrelated issue. But when the Governor expressed public
concerns about police-related matters following the killing of George Floyd, I
renewed my request. So far, silence.
Why is this particularly important now? Attorney General Keith Ellison is
relying on the BCA to do the investigation into the killing of George Floyd.
Some people don't trust the BCA to investigate police officers. It is more
important than ever now that we find out what that Walz-ordered investigation
of the BCA more than a year ago turned up.
Governor Walz gives an impression of forthrightness and transparency. On this
relatively simple inquiry of his office, my personal experience has been the
opposite.
Chuck Turchick
Minneapolis
