[Mpls] re:Lt. Arradondo removed from the Police Community Relations Council

[Velez, Jose E.]

I would like to set the record straight and clarify Council Member
Samuel's role in the reporting of an alleged incident of police
brutality committed this week related in Michelle Hill's post.
 
On Tuesday afternoon, our office received a call from a 3rd ward
constituent who was clearly very upset.  The constituent reported that
while shopping at a North Side convenience store, she observed two
Minneapolis Police officers using unnecessary and excessive force while
arresting a young man in the parking lot.
 
The constituent went on to report that she had filed a report with
Internal Affairs.  She stated she was calling her Council Member in
order that she could feel sure she had taken all steps possible to
adequately report the incident.
 
After hanging up the phone, Council Member Samuels called the Chief of
Police and the Precinct Inspector to verbally inform them of what he had
been told by the constituent.
 
It is Council Member Samuels' responsibility, as a public official, to
pass on complaints of this manner. He has followed this protocol for
every single similar complaint that has made to his office since his
term began. He did not, as Michele ERRONEOUSLY STATES, file a report
with Internal Affairs. The constituent did this, on her own, in advance
of calling the Council office.
 
Council Member Samuels cannot discern over the phone, whether or not
complaints of this nature have merit.  He treats them all equally, by
verbally reporting them to MPD leadership.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jose Velez
Aide
Council Member Samuels' office