Frey, police union continue standoff over 'warrior' style training
The war of words between Mayor Jacob Frey and the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis over the use of "warrior" style training continues.
Mayor Frey last week announced a new policy bringing an end to "fear-based" training for Minneapolis officers – whether on or off-duty – amid criticisms that such training makes it more likely that officers will use deadly force.
The police union appeared set to defy the ban when it announced on Tuesday it was teaming up with a law enforcement training company to provide free training to Minneapolis police officers, with union leader Lt. Bob Kroll saying the "lives of our our officers are not important to politicians."
It looked as though an accord had been reached on Friday, with Mayor Frey saying discussions between police leaders led to an apparent retreat from the union.
Frey said at a press conference that the federation will have "full compliance with the policy going forward."
But the supposed detente didn't last long, with the Star Tribune's Andy Mannix told by the union that Mayor Frey had misrepresented their discussions.
Under the new policy, any off-duty training programs undertaken by Minneapolis police officers must be signed off by Chief Arradondo.
"I want to make the point that officer safety is paramount in importance to me and my administration, to chief [Medaria] Arradondo, and to our entire police department," Frey said.
Here's Mayor Frey's press conference, courtesy of FOX 9.