MINNEAPOLIS
Police are changing tactics
The Minneapolis Police Department announced four policy changes Monday aimed at defusing conflicts between officers and the public that can turn deadly while holding officers more accountable for their actions. Police Chief Janee Harteau said that the “sanctity of life” is now the cornerstone of her department’s use-of-force policy. Officers must use de-escalation tactics whenever reasonably possible to get people to voluntarily comply with police orders and they must seek to avoid or minimize the use of force. They also have an explicit duty to intervene to try to prevent other officers from using force inappropriately and a duty to report any misconduct.
PHOENIX
Money pours in for sheriff
The sheriff of metropolitan Phoenix has raised close to $10 million in his bid for a seventh term, a stunning collection of campaign riches for a local police race, and much of it was contributed by a devoted base of backers who live outside Arizona. Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s fundraising far exceeds the amount normally spent by candidates in a typical congressional race. The 84-year-old sheriff, who cultivated a national reputation for being tough on accused criminals, is at risk of being charged in a contempt-of-court case. A judge is considering whether to recommend criminal charges against the sheriff for ignoring court orders in a racial-profiling lawsuit.
PUEBLO, COLO.
2 children, baby sitter drown
Two sisters, ages 3 and 5, and their 17-year-old female baby sitter drowned in a swimming pool in a southern Colorado mobile home park, police said Monday. Pueblo police are investigating what led to the drownings but said no foul play was suspected. Officers responding to an emergency call shortly after 2 p.m. tried to revive the victims.
LOUISVILLE, KY.
Judge agrees to suspension
Avoiding possible banishment from the bench, a remorseful Kentucky judge was suspended Monday for racially charged comments aimed at a top prosecutor that stemmed from the judge’s frustration over lack of minority representation on a jury panel. Olu Stevens, a black circuit judge in Louisville, accepted a 90-day suspension without pay in an agreement approved by the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission. Stevens acknowledged he violated judicial canons and said his social media onslaught against the prosecutor was wrong.
Compiled from wire reports