MPR News PM Update

Jan. 28, 2022

Minneapolis city officials have dismissed an ethics complaint against former police chief Medaria Arradondo. In October, the former chief stood in uniform in front of a Minneapolis Police Department backdrop and spoke against a ballot measure that would’ve replaced the police department with a new public safety agency.

Critics said he violated rules against using public resources to campaign. In a letter of reprimand dated Dec. 20, Mayor Jacob Frey told Arradondo that he ran afoul of four policies, including using city facilities and property to engage in political activity.

This week the city's ethical practices board dismissed a complaint against Arradondo as duplicative. In November, they dismissed a separate complaint from former Council President Lisa Bender.

Arradondo retired earlier this month.

The public safety ballot measure — which Frey also opposed — failed with a 56 percent no vote.

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