Thirty-two years of being able to give back to a city that I was born and raised is a blessing., Video of the incident that led to Floyds death showed former officer Derek Chauvin impassively kneeling on the 46-year-old Black mans neck and back while he was handcuffed and lying prone in the street for more than nine minutes, gasping for air and telling Minneapolis officers, I cant breathe.. cta_2_check_382199 = true; After wrestling with the "weighty" and "emotional" choice, they all agreed that the officers had to go, a decision that Arradondo announced to the world later that afternoon in a news conference outside of City Hall. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo was born and raised in the city he now serves. Edited by Warren Lustig. Arradondo said Monday his decision to retire was based on time and not Floyds murder. The chief finishes that interaction and validates my order with a laugh and a gesture that says, I wish, but I know better. The guy who buddies call Rondo worked his way up through the MPD ranks with stints on the beat in the Fourth Precinct, as the commander of Internal Affairs, and as assistant chief during the police shooting of Jamar Clark. Well soon talk about growing up in the neighborhood that became Murderapolis and how to fix policing from the inside during the era of I Cant Breathe. But first, we order. He took the right first step when he fired the police officers and hes been visible at press conferences. It has evolved. While some community members blameArradondo for the way he has handled the controversy after the death of Floyd, others say he is doing what he can. I do have to guard myself from clinging a little too much to nostalgia. }else{ if( cta_1_check_382199 ){ And so I cannot in good faith work with a contract that-- that-- diminishes my authority as chief but also erodes that public trust that our communities need so much right now. Minneapolis rejects policing overhaul, CNN projects. In 2007, Arradondo was one of five black officers who sued former Chief Tim Dolan, alleging that he fostered a racially hostile environment. Lesley Stahl: Is the bottom line that you cannot weed out the so-called bad apples, and you cannot fully discipline to the extent you want to, because of the union contract? Is that unusual for a big-city police chief? You get a ton of equipment to wear, the badge and everything else, he said. }); Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo is set to testify against Derek Chauvin, one of his former officers, in what is being considered a rare move. Click here to log inor subscribe. But-- or they will be left behind. And eventually there has to be another lens to look at that and move it to the next level. } var inline_cta_text_382199 = ''; "So I don't see a level of distinction any different. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. He plans to appeal that conviction. Still, there was skepticism, the Star Tribune reported. How the wealthy cut the line during Florida's frenzied vaccine rollout, Kherson, Ukraine, withstands constant Russian attacks after occupation ends, Nuclear Fusion: Inside the breakthrough that could change our world. I make mistakes, theres no doubt about it. On Memorial Day, a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on a black man's neck until he was unresponsive. There were 52 before me. if( is_user_logged_in != null ){ The neighborhood you grew up in was the epicenter of the violence. Williams said Arradondo has been doing his part to make sure the officers don't overreact when the protests get violent. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Minnesota, studying crime and law. The people who join this department will be people who want to change, for the better, those narratives. MINNEAPOLIS -- Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced Monday that he won't accept a third term as chief, a blow to a department that has been reeling since four officers were charged in George Floyd's death. By signing up, you confirm that you are over the age of 16 andagree to receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. And shortly after that we moved to south Minneapolisthe Central neighborhood, at 37th and Park. The union's president, Robert Kroll, was named in Chief Arradondo's own civil rights complaint 13 years ago as someone who made racist statements. Did you encounter any technical issues? Following this, he was made a Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He openly condemned Mr. Chauvins actions and called Mr. Floyds death a murder.. He is very much aware that there is racial injustice and that there is white supremacy in the police department.. On it, MLKs portrait hangs below handmade signs: our ancestors are watching }else{ I remember as a young officer, rolling out of the Fourth Precinct parking lot one afternoon, and the Rodney King incident had just occurred. Updated I mean, cities are always changingalways having ups and downs. Following this, he was made a Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief. By 2 p.m. Frey tweeted news of the officers' firings, writing: "This is the right call. And I did not see a whole lot of officers who looked like me. ga('ads.send', { In their complaint, they said that every African American officer received a hate letter signed "KKK" through interoffice mail. I think that, unfortunately, there is a narrative that the work we do does not oftentimes have their best interest at heart. Those tasks are a part of his duties as assistant chief, a position he was appointed to in April after serving as Harteaus chief of staff for 2 years. Produced by Sarah Koch. Among the many considerations facing Arradondo was weighing the potential fallout from firing the officers so quickly after the incident, Belton said. Truly. Thank god we didnt do it in Minneapolis. tn_ptype: 'article', how much does tom bury make on restaurant impossible; birmingham police department detectives The plaza is quiet. if( inline_cta_2_font_color_382199 !='' ){ To communicate and listen and make sure that they were being heard. He will not mince any words. "Now at the time, the word 'murder,' 'killing,' that wasn't really tossed around, but also it was a matter of concern because we knew the city would not receive this well," Howell said. But what Im trying to communicate is that, one, I strongly believe, and the data supports it, that we need more. ga('ads.send', { }); You have to earn that with the community, through your character. If you lose that, you may never repair it, may never get that back., Send this article to anyone, no subscription is necessary to view it, Anyone can read, no subscription required, See window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { At the end of the day, are folks not going to be harassed by the police? var arrayLength = myStringArray.length; hitType: 'event', Stephen Maturen/Getty Images (4th Precinct Police Station). document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ The first priority always is going to be the preservation of life, he said. var is_user_logged_in = getCookie('SESSname'); if( is_user_logged_in != null ){ "To the Floyd family, being silent or not intervening, to me, you're complicit," the chief said as Floyd's brother listened from home, unable to control his tears. window.onload = function() It was after the shooting of Justine Damond by former Minneapolis police officer Mohammed Noor and the subsequent resignation of former police chief Jane Harteau in mid-2017 that he was nominated as Minneapolis's new Chief of Police by the mayor of Minneapolis. Lesley Stahl: Chief, were you ever stopped? inline_cta_2_button_text_382199 = ''; Having the hometown gig probably comes with its own pressures, too. "I don't want to surround myself with 'yes people' and I did tell them this is, and it was a weighty, weighty decision. tn_articleid: [382199], MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Floyd was not the areas first high-profile police killing. } Back in 2002, Metroid Fusion was released for the Game Boy Advance. 2023 Cable News Network. But Arradondo, the MPDs first Black police chief, immediately distanced himself from the officers who killed Floyd, firing all four within 24 hours and calling their actions a violation of humanity live on CNN. By the time Floyd was killed, the MPD had already implemented many of the police reforms considered best practices. what was going. A Warner Bros. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { The mainly peaceful protestors are calling for reforms including dismantling or defunding the police department. He has pleaded not guilty. Birth: 1926 Texas, USA: Residence: xxxx: Death: x xxx xxxx: Record information. What do communities get wrong about their police? The buildings entrance, once glass, has been blocked by cement. Bishop Richard Howell, of Shiloh Temple International Ministries, said that he and other leaders met with Arradondo around 10 a.m. on May 26, the day after Floyd died, when the chief told them he was torn about what to do. Lesley Stahl: You're the chief now. "That part of giving back to this city will always be there for me and it's such an honor," he said. Arradondo testified at Chauvins trial that the kneeling was a violation of the policies around de-escalation, objectively reasonable use of force and requirement to render aid. You can read our Privacy Policy here. if( magazine_button_bg_color_382199 !='' ){ if( inline_cta_2_text_382199 !='' ){ }); I take that with a great sense of responsibility and Im just humbled that Ive had people who came before me to uplift me, Arradondo said at his introductory press conference where he also said he intended to "restore faith" in the community. Chief Medaria Arradondo: Well, whatever he might have expected, he did not receive that from me. Here are five things to know about the man who is now in the national spotlight: According to the Star Tribune,Arradondo talked about the weight of his responsibility when he took over the job in 2017, becoming Minneapolis' first Black police chief. When George Floyd's death occurred, my minutes and my hours and my days were consumed with-- really trying to-- to keep this city, um, held together. In my experience, that-- that shouldn't be shocking. Fast-forward to today, and I dont care if a situation happens in a police department in Texas or Toronto: If its scrutinized and something of a critical nature, communities today feel very connected to that, and they will view your police department sometimes in the lens of that. if( is_user_logged_in != null ){ Video of police killing the unarmed Black man has caused global outrage and has led to widespread protests, with people demanding justice for Floyd and repercussions for all officers involved. Communities were less mobile and more tight-knit. hitType: 'event', In order to comment, you must be logged in as a paid subscriber. var magazine_button_bg_color_382199 = ''; Dayton: Justine Damond shooting a tragedy, more information needed, Medical examiner: Justine Damond died from gunshot wound to abdomen, Tevlin: Where Justine Damond died, cameras roll too late, BCA: Officer heard loud noise before Justine Damond shot, Complete coverage of Justine Ruszczyk Damond's shooting, Stolen Kia being chased by patrol in Mpls. With Minneapolis on edge and under scrutiny, the pressure is on the city's police chief, Medaria Arradondo, a 30-year veteran and the first black man to head the mostly white police department. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ And in nearly half of those cases-- half of those cases, that police officer is reinstated. Around his neck, a bright yellow lanyard announces that he belongs. The property damage in Minneapolis is estimated at more than $100 million. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. jQuery("#inline_cta_btn_382199 a input").css("color",inline_cta_font_color_382199); ", Arradondo said that after reaching his decision, he called the mayor to tell him. Um, when these incidents occur, if they're not captured on video, are their voices gonna be taken as-- as-- as truthful? He is the first African-American to hold the position. It's telling that 13 years ago, Medaria Arradondo and four other black police officers sued the department for racial discrimination. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo on Monday thoroughly rejected Derek Chauvin's actions and use of force during the arrest of George Floyd last May as contrary to department policy. We just have to get rid of it. var cta_2_check_382199 = false; if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ } ga('ads.send', { It occurs. targeting:{ cta_2_check_382199 = true; Among his reforms are ending low-level marijuana stings and toughening body camera requirements. what occurred. Yes. I went to Page Elementary School. }else{ A week before Philando Castile, a Black man from St. Paul, was murdered by local police in 2016, Kroll told NPR, I always equate police work to, like, basketball. He said that by then it had dawned on him that Floyd's death was "going to be a significant incident for the city," according to the documents. By last month's killing of George Floyd, Chief Arradondo said the Minneapolis black community had had enough. magazine_button_url_382199 = 'https://www.thenation.com/email-signup-module-donate/'; It cannot be fixed. pg.acq.push(function() { Now, they also say we need good policing. "[Arradondo] will be a chief and leader who will not only ingrain changes made in the department in recent years, he will move forward with his own inspiring vision for transformation," the former mayor said. cta_2_check_382199 = true; Lesley Stahl: So as I understand it, there was something released to the press, that George Floyd had resisted arrest and that he had-- I'm gonna read this, died "after a medical incident during a police interaction." more of the story, Arradondo has twice addressed the media since the shooting, 911 calls provide a glimpse into Justine Damond's final moments, 911 call transcript: Before being shot by officer, Justine Damond called in possible rape, When Mayor Betsy Hodges clashed with Harteau in April over the appointment of a new Fourth Precinct captain, Hodges used Arradondo as an example of a uniting person, not a polarizing figure in the community., In a story published Tuesday by the Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder, Gov. So I'm very sorry. if( cta_2_check_382199 ){ In 2015, another white officer killed 24-year-old Jamar Clark, setting off 18 days of protests. After graduating from Roosevelt High School and earning a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Metropolitan State, he served stints in patrol, internal affairs and property crimes, and has walked the beat on the citys North Side, where his family has strong ties. But we also have to attack and address the systemic challenges and barriers that exist in that. }); slotId: "thenation_right_rail_382199", In December 2021, Arradondo announced his retirement effective January 15, 2022. 10:02 PM EST, Mon December 6, 2021, Police chief on Floyd killing: This was a violation of humanity. On Easter Sunday, the space was filled with people dancing, blowing bubbles, and photographing murals. Others, however, say the police chief is not doing enough. inline_cta_2_font_color_382199 = '#ffffff'; Mr. Floyds killing fueled calls for police reform and a pledge by a majority of the City Council to dismantle the department, and since then Chief Arradondo has worked with Mayor Jacob Frey to pass several reforms, including a revamped use-of-force policy. Father: xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx (1890-xxxx) Mother: xxxxxx xxx xxxxxxx (1905-xxxx) Spouse: Henrietta Jacobs (1917-xxxx) "We were working on the changes that had been necessary way before George Floyd died," he said. [10], Arradondo was chief of police during the high-profile murder of George Floyd and subsequent widespread protests and destruction. let gads_event; Lesley Stahl: Officer Chauvin's demeanor, he was so relaxed. And there are some who find it challenging when Im asking for additional personnel and resources. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo was a star witness for the prosecution Monday at the trial of a former officer charged with killing George Floyd, repeating the criticism he levied after }); But the other thing is, if were truly about transforming the culture, what better opportunity is there but to bring on new people to help instill that new vision? magazine_button_text_382199 = ''; var myStringArray = mp_global.tag; One of his cousins, Jason Youngmark, 33, was shot and killed at a north Minneapolis barbecue in 2012. [4], Arradondo was a Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief before being nominated as Minneapolis's new Chief of Police by the Mayor of Minneapolis, after the resignation of former police chief Jane Harteau in mid-2017, shortly after the shooting of Justine Damond by former Minneapolis police officer Mohammed Noor. Kroll has bragged openly about his infamy: 54 complaints and 11 lawsuits to his name. According to NBC News,Justine Damond was a white woman who called 911 to reporta sexual assault incident near her home. Stores were going up in flames. Arradondo is reportedly Minneapolis's first Black police chief and his record in the department is nothing short of impressive. Blocks from the courthouse, a news camera sits alone on the street corner. That erodes that confidence. }. inline_cta_2_bg_color_382199 = '#cc0e0e'; Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo announced Monday that he won't accept a third term as chief, a blow to a department that has been reeling since four officers were charged in George Floyd's death. In a TikTok-posted film taken during the celebration, Howard points over her head. Some speakers asked about the city's readiness for the possibility of protests. The officer was charged with manslaughter, but was acquitted. George Floyd wasn't resisting arrest. inline_cta_2_text_382199 = '
Know someone who would like The Nation?
'; What was Minneapolis like when you were a kid? You fire someone. He died after a police officer, Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes. Chauvin was convicted in April on state murder charges. Mr. Arradondo joined the Minneapolis Police Department in 1989 as a patrol officer and was appointed chief of police in 2017 after his predecessor was forced out in the wake of a controversial. Lesley Stahl: I heard somebody say, look, we have to get rid of the Minneapolis Police Department. Half the officers whom you fire, you have to take back and put out on the street. If we have even one who is allowed to come back that sets us back. tn_author: ['alyssa-o', 'anna-d'], magazine_button_text_382199 = ''; var inline_cta_2_button_text_382199 = ''; Chief Medaria Arradondo: That policy does not state that you apply your full entire body weight with your knee on an individual who's not resisting, cutting off his air. Arradondo appears happy to oblige each. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' if( magazine_button_text_382199 !='' ){ While Chief Jane Harteau remains out of public view on what a spokesperson called a personal, pre-scheduled trip, Arradondo nicknamed Rondo has been the face of the MPD during the aftermath of the Justine Damond shooting, whose killing by officer Mohamed Noor has made international headlines. It just so happened that the Airport Police Department started its first community officer program. } The then deputy chief talks with demonstrators outside the 4th Precinct in 2015. ", The police chief called the killing "a violation of humanity.". After a weekend-long recess, the trial of Derek Chauvin, whom Arradondo fired for killing George Floyd, resumed on Monday. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code, Vast majority of U.S. homes are unaffordable to the average buyer. CNN's Sara Sidner speaks with Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo at the scene where George Floyd was killed while in police custody. Chief Medaria Arradondo: Within a few hours we had both protests becoming more violent, we had large groups of individuals who had overrun security around the precinct; we had large scale looting, fires, shots being fired. He was the first black chief of the Minneapolis Police Department. Medaria Arradondo from tree Hernandez Family Tree. Arradondo talked with the Floyd familyin a live interview on CNN Sunday. inline_cta_bg_color_382199 = '#ffcf0d'; In 2007, along with four other African-American officers, Arradondo sued the Minneapolis Police Department alleging discrimination in promotions, pay, and discipline. For the MPD chief, talking to a camera is a common occurrence. Current Issue In Seattle, police used tear gas multiple timesduring a respiratory pandemicbefore Chief Carmen Best temporarily banned it. jQuery("#inline_cta_btn_382199 a input").css("background",inline_cta_bg_color_382199); Growing up in Minneapolis, Medaria Arradondo didn't see a lot of black cops. var is_user_logged_in = getCookie('SESSname'); The recruiting process will include a national search as well, according to the mayor. Honestly, part of the reason is, everywhere we go out in public with him in the city of Minneapolis, its tough to get work done, says police spokesman John Elder. The Minneapolis Police Department has been under fire since the death of George Floyd. People were running in and out of stores unhampered. And it-- so-- just happened that again, that's my neighborhood. Large white letters leaned against the stage, spelling out their plan: defund police. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Lesley Stahl: The lawyer for the other officers is saying they were rookies and they were just following the instructions of the senior officer. The only times they really came close was if there was something bad that occurred in the neighborhood. I need to be heavily involved in that. by Drew Wood April 28, 2020 Expand Photo by Caitlin Abrams Medaria Arradondo in City Hall: "A thing I grapple with as chief is trying to humanize this profession."