Former Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau joined Chad Hartman on WCCO-Radio to discuss the letter written by President of the Police Union Bob Kroll. Harteau shared that she believes he is tarnishing the badge of every cop in the United States.
Kroll released a letter to the police union earlier today. For more on that read here.
Harteau said that when she was serving as chief she made several attempts to create change within the department. While doing so she said that Kroll was very vocal against any progressive change that she tried to enact.
“There are countless examples of why Bob Kroll is leading with cancerous behavior,” Harteau said, “I am concerned not only for the community but for the police department.”
She is worried that people will think that Kroll’s beliefs are shared amongst every police officer. She also is worried that people will believe that no change can happen within the force.
Harteau then mentioned that she has reached out to several members in the Major City Police Chiefs Association asking for help to deal with the actions of Kroll. She is also calling for him to resign his position.
“Bob Kroll's silence is just as much, and just as important and loud as those who blatantly do racist things,” Harteau said, “he has been called KKK Bob Kroll for years for a reason.”
When asked about Kroll's claim that the media will not discuss Floyd’s “violent criminal history,” Harteau said that Floyd’s history had nothing to do with the incident at the time. Instead she says that bringing attention to this perpetuates stereotypes and creates more division and fear.
“You have to address bad actions of officers, but you also need to support those officers when they do well,” Harteau said.
Harteau says that she sees change when it comes to condemning officers and is saddened that it is happening under these circumstances, However she brings attention to officers all over the country condemning the acts of Derek Chauvin except one, Kroll.
Kroll has said that his job is to protect officers at any cost. However, Harteau sees it in a different light.
“His duty, like every union, is [to] protect the rights of workers,” Harteau said, “but not to protect workers that are ineffective, injust, unsafe, incompetent, the list goes on.”
