MN - Justine Damond, 40, fatally shot by Minneapolis LE, 15 July 2017 #3

[PrairieWind]

Well the trial and verdict made it to BBC US cop guilty of murdering Australian
at least the Canada site. Special meeting this morning of the City Council to discuss the litigation (civil suit) and word on the street here is that the city and new police chief (since the murder) simply HAVE to settle the suit at whatever cost. With all the city funded programs being cut and crime a serious issue now the taxpayers are stuck paying millions for this rogue cop. Tough situation but I fully understand the family doing this. I think, despite their courage they may want to settle too and get back to Australia. Don seems strong and probably wants the same. I think whatever settlement they get will go to good use for some work that Justine would have been involved in.

Whether the City can settle the suit remains to be seen. The suit asks for $50 million. There is no way the city will pay anywhere near that voluntarily. And there may be some on city counsel that would like to see the suit continue and expose the mess in the police department.

 

[turaj]

It makes you think twice about calling the police. Which is part of why our society in the United States has become so callous, and ignores the problems of others, we just don't want to get involved. Sadly, Justine had not yet learned that unspoken social norm here. Stay away from cops, and other people's drama. Sad, but true.

Which is why it is routine to hear about a woman getting beaten, killed, in front of people and no one says a word. Maybe they might call the police, but they don't give their name.

I come from an LEO family, granddaughter of LEO, married to two LEO, and yet, I think that the caliber of officers has changed. JMO.

Extremely true and yes you live here long enough and the "unspoken social norms" take over. Boy is that a sad comment...

 

[turaj]

Whether the City can settle the suit remains to be seen. The suit asks for $50 million. There is no way the city will pay anywhere near that voluntarily. And there may be some on city counsel that would like to see the suit continue and expose the mess in the police department.

Could be...I don't recall if you are from Minneapolis. I am trying to go thru the council line up and not sure a majority would be in favor of that...will they settle for less than 50mil of course they will...if I were in their shoes which is not possible but just thinking...I would not want to go home (those from Oz) and leave this gun culture behind ...and use the money for a cause that Justine believed in whether here or in Oz. But they might be thinking very differently. I think the legal advice to the city will be to settle. It seems like the past chief Harteau is involved too. A true nightmare for a police force that needs to start from square one...I don't envy Rondo..seems like a very nice well meaning guy but this is really overwhelming.

 

[Tippy Lynn]

Whether the City can settle the suit remains to be seen. The suit asks for $50 million. There is no way the city will pay anywhere near that voluntarily. And there may be some on city counsel that would like to see the suit continue and expose the mess in the police department.

If anything maybe positive changes within the PD will happen. There's obviously huge changes that need to take place and this time it can't be swept under the rug or blamed on something else.

 

[PrairieWind]

Could be...I don't recall if you are from Minneapolis. I am trying to go thru the council line up and not sure a majority would be in favor of that...will they settle for less than 50mil of course they will...if I were in their shoes which is not possible but just thinking...I would not want to go home (those from Oz) and leave this gun culture behind ...and use the money for a cause that Justine believed in whether here or in Oz. But they might be thinking very differently. I think the legal advice to the city will be to settle. It seems like the past chief Harteau is involved too. A true nightmare for a police force that needs to start from square one...I don't envy Rondo..seems like a very nice well meaning guy but this is really overwhelming.

No I am not in Minneapolis, but I have some relatives up there.
Arrodondo is at least paying lip service to the problems in the police department that he now heads. He has been very critical of Noor's actions and the investigation. Maybe its just lip service, but at least its something. The former chief, Harteau, was a train wreck, and didn't seem to even be competent for the position. I don't know if the City has liability insurance in place for this, there usually is some insurance pool. However, it will be limited. As I said, the city wont voluntarily pay $50 million, it can't. Nor $40 mil nor $30 mil. I would expect the city to make an offer of $5 or $10 million and make an Offer of Judgment. That puts pressure on the plaintiffs. If they reject it, and later at trial don't get awarded that much, they will have to pay the City's costs incurred in defending from here on.

 

[turaj]

No I am not in Minneapolis, but I have some relatives up there.
Arrodondo is at least paying lip service to the problems in the police department that he now heads. He has been very critical of Noor's actions and the investigation. Maybe its just lip service, but at least its something. The former chief, Harteau, was a train wreck, and didn't seem to even be competent for the position. I don't know if the City has liability insurance in place for this, there usually is some insurance pool. However, it will be limited. As I said, the city wont voluntarily pay $50 million, it can't. Nor $40 mil nor $30 mil. I would expect the city to make an offer of $5 or $10 million and make an Offer of Judgment. That puts pressure on the plaintiffs. If they reject it, and later at trial don't get awarded that much, they will have to pay the City's costs incurred in defending from here on.

sounds about right...does the police union have money for this? I always assume they do.

 

[PrairieWind]

If anything maybe positive changes within the PD will happen. There's obviously huge changes that need to take place and this time it can't be swept under the rug or blamed on something else.

I hope changes can be made. There are a lot things to change. Officer selection and training. Clear procedures for body cams and strict adherence to those rules. And changes to how officer are investigated. The MBCA needs to do a MUCH better job. If their officers are not able or willing to fully investigate other LE officers then they need to find a different job.

 

[PrairieWind]

sounds about right...does the police union have money for this? I always assume they do.

I don't think the union is named as a defendant, are they?

 

[Tippy Lynn]

I hope changes can be made. There are a lot things to change. Officer selection and training. Clear procedures for body cams and strict adherence to those rules. And changes to how officer are investigated. The MBCA needs to do a MUCH better job. If their officers are not able or willing to fully investigate other LE officers then they need to find a different job.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[mickey2942]

I hope changes can be made. There are a lot things to change. Officer selection and training. Clear procedures for body cams and strict adherence to those rules. And changes to how officer are investigated. The MBCA needs to do a MUCH better job. If their officers are not able or willing to fully investigate other LE officers then they need to find a different job.

That could be said about a lot of jobs. People close ranks. Nursing, medical field, education...law Enforcement, military...which is why supervision needs to model the culture, get rid of bad folks, rather than let it slide. It makes it harder for people in the field.

Noor is an excellent example, there were numerous opportunities for intervention from supervision. Never happened.

 

[turaj]

I don't think the union is named as a defendant, are they?

Maybe not but don't they cover their members? Noor was one...not sure how all this works. The money will come from somewhere it always does...MSP council is always going "behind closed doors" to sort of settlements from lawsuits.

 

[PrairieWind]

Maybe not but don't they cover their members? Noor was one...not sure how all this works. The money will come from somewhere it always does...MSP council is always going "behind closed doors" to sort of settlements from lawsuits.

Law suits are discussed in "executive sessions" usually by counsels and not open to the public.
Typically unions will pay for legal defense of a member, but they aren't on the hook for judgments.

 

[turaj]

Law suits are discussed in "executive sessions" usually by counsels and not open to the public.
Typically unions will pay for legal defense of a member, but they aren't on the hook for judgments.

Thanks...I did not mean to imply that MSP or any other city is doing something under the table going in closed session...I mean can't expect that to be in public. I would however like to see cameras in the courtroom in Mn. but know that is not popular and I imagine a case like Noor would have lasted much longer .

 

[Rocco]

Could be...I don't recall if you are from Minneapolis. I am trying to go thru the council line up and not sure a majority would be in favor of that...will they settle for less than 50mil of course they will...if I were in their shoes which is not possible but just thinking...I would not want to go home (those from Oz) and leave this gun culture behind ...and use the money for a cause that Justine believed in whether here or in Oz. But they might be thinking very differently. I think the legal advice to the city will be to settle. It seems like the past chief Harteau is involved too. A true nightmare for a police force that needs to start from square one...I don't envy Rondo..seems like a very nice well meaning guy but this is really overwhelming.

We'll see if Rondo gets rid of Barnette after what was revealed in her testimony. She's gotta go for starters. I'm a little surprised she's still there after what she did and said the night this happened. Maybe he was waiting until after the trial to get rid of her?

 

[PrairieWind]

Thanks...I did not mean to imply that MSP or any other city is doing something under the table going in closed session...I mean can't expect that to be in public. I would however like to see cameras in the courtroom in Mn. but know that is not popular and I imagine a case like Noor would have lasted much longer .

No problem. City Counsels often abuse "executive sessions" to discuss stuff that should be public. But there are also legit reasons for those sessions. I do think that settlement agreements of law suits should be made public but are often sealed/confidential.

 

[PrairieWind]

Is Officer Harrity back on patrol? I don't know if I ever heard.

 

[Wagtales10]

What other case has an officer shot someone before they had any interaction with them? I don't know of any.

Shooting someone when there is no reason to? Yes that happens ALOT and the cops usually dont get punished. Well seems in only very specific cases apparently. Easily google-able.

 

[PrairieWind]

Shooting someone when there is no reason to? Yes that happens ALOT and the cops usually dont get punished. Well seems in only very specific cases apparently. Easily google-able.

Michael Slager got 20 years for the unjustified shooting of Walter Scott. Noor won't get 20 years for shooting Justine.

 

[turaj]

Michael Slager got 20 years for the unjustified shooting of Walter Scott. Noor won't get 20 years for shooting Justine.

I don't think he will get as long as I think he should!

 

[Wagtales10]

Michael Slager got 20 years for the unjustified shooting of Walter Scott. Noor won't get 20 years for shooting Justine.

No, that is incorrect and misleading. he got 20 years on federal charges including violation of Scott's civil rights and obstruction of justice.

The murder/shooting trial ended in a mistrial. The murder and shooting charges were later dropped.