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Police union blames city leadership for Dr. Alexander retirement
After Alexander announced his intention to retire in September, the police union appeared to blame city leadership for his resignation.
MINNEAPOLIS — One day after Minneapolis Community Safety Commissioner Dr. Cedric Alexander announced his intention to retire in September after just one year on the job, the police union fired back with a statement Friday accusing city leadership of having “run off someone that could have greatly contributed to the restoration of public safety.”
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis did not grant a request for an on-camera interview, but the organization shared new details Friday about an episode that occurred before Alexander’s hiring last summer.
“Dr. Alexander came to the City of Minneapolis to build the Office of Community Safety and rebuild community trust. Shortly after being hired, he spent time meeting with stakeholders, and he met with the POFM Board,” the Federation said. “During that meeting Dr. Alexander stated, ‘if one day you wake up and see I quit, it’s because they won’t let me do my job.’ It appears that time has come for him. The backward ways in the City of Minneapolis have yet again run off someone that could have greatly contributed to the restoration of public safety in the City of Minneapolis.”
On Friday, two spokespeople for Alexander’s office confirmed that he did, in fact, make that comment to the union last year. However, it’s still not clear exactly what he meant by that statement or who “they” might be in the context of interfering with his operations. Alexander’s office said the commissioner’s phrase about “they won’t let me do my job” was not directed at anyone in particular.
Alexander was not available for an interview Friday due to his attendance at the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives annual conference in Cleveland, according to a spokesperson.
According to the Minneapolis Police Federation, Cedric Alexander once told them “if one day you wake up and see I quit, it’s because they wouldn’t let me do my job.”
Today, Alexander confirmed he said that — but claims it wasn’t directed at anyone in particular. @KARE11 pic.twitter.com/vCMxj7695L
— Danny Spewak (@DannySpewak) July 21, 2023
In his interview with KARE 11 on Thursday, Alexander struck a cordial tone when discussing his relationship with Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O’Hara. Both the mayor and chief have issued statements thanking Alexander for his service.
“I want to congratulate Commissioner Alexander on his well-deserved retirement,” O’Hara said in a statement Friday, “and I wish him well in the future.”
Ward 12 Council Member Andrew Johnson offered a different view.
“It’s pretty disappointing to see [Alexander] leaving just one year into a four year term,” Johnson told KARE 11 in a text message. “Establishing a new department requires stability, dedication, and continuity. It also requires adequate resources, which I know was a concern he has raised. I expect we will soon hear from the mayor on the next steps.”
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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS — The City of Minneapolis will move ahead with new carbon fees after a contentious back and forth at City Hall concluded with the council overriding the mayor’s veto.
The new fees, which target carbon emissions from city businesses, will be implemented on July 1, 2025, according to the council.
Minneapolis already has a pollution fee system, known as the Pollution Control Annual Registration or PCAR. The fees go into the city’s Green Cost Share program, helping pay the costs companies incur bringing down their emissions.
The current PCAR system covers emissions of other air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, heavy particulates, and sulfur oxides, nitrous oxides, lead, and carbon monoxide. Companies are required to report their emissions levels to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which, in turn, charges fees of $100 per ton.
The City Council voted Oct. 2 to add carbon dioxide to the list. The resolution seeks to impose a $452 per ton fee for carbon dioxide.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey questioned the legality of the new measure while issuing his veto on Wednesday.
“I am all on board for PCAR fees—but it’s time the Council stops playing games and follows the processes in place to enact lasting change,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement to KARE.
Before his veto was overridden, Frey had told KARE that if the measure were to move forward, companies hit with the fees would likely sue the city and win.
Council Member Robin Wonsley, who co-authored the measure, took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to Frey’s veto on Wednesday night.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
TWO RIVERS, Wis. — About a month after 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s remains were recovered from a private property in Wisconsin, state authorities announced Thursday that charges have been filed against the boy’s mother and her partner.
Wisconsin law enforcement said Katrina Baur, and her partner, Jesse Vang, are facing charges in connection with 3-year-old Elijah Vue’s death, including obstruction.
Vue went missing in February and it wasn’t until September that his body was recovered and identified.
Wadena-Deer Creek head coach Kyle Petermeier told families in a letter that a rash of injuries has reduced the roster to the point that playing is a “safety issue.”
WADENA, Minn. — A central Minnesota high school is pulling the plug on the remainder of its varsity football season, saying continuing to play would not be “safe or realistic.”
Wadena-Deer Creek head coach Kyle Petermeier sent a letter home to families earlier in the week, explaining the decision to skip the Wolverines’ final game and subsequent district playoffs. Petermeier said injuries began piling up as the club reached midseason, and roster numbers hit a dangerous low following Wadena-Deer Creek’s game in week 7.
Heading into the final regular season game against Staples-Motley, Wadena-Deer Creek had just eight healthy players from 10th to 12th grade. At that point, the coach said, a difficult but necessary decision had to be made in the interest of safety.
“We are in a position now where we would have to trot out a majority of our team that is 14 and 15 years old, and that is not in the best interest of our kids,” coach Petermeier explained. “To us, safety is ahead of any individual game result. Football is a physical sport and putting out a team of mostly 14-15 year olds vs. 17-18 year olds is not safe or realistic for our team, and even the opposing team playing. “
Before the decision to end their season, the Wolverines were 1-6 on the year, losing games by up to 50 points.
Coach Petermeier credited this year’s varsity squad for their preparation, training and effort, and told parents he believes the future of the Wadena-Deer Creek football program is bright with big participation numbers with players at the fifth- to ninth-grade levels.
“Football is a game that requires strength in numbers, and we will do anything we can to keep these numbers high and keep kids out for football,” he promised.
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