What Minneapolis Police Lt. Bob Kroll said in Sunday radio interview
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CBS This Morning
A week after announcing plans to retire from his position as president of the Minneapolis Police Federation, Minneapolis Police Department Lt. Bob Kroll was a guest on WCCO Radio Sunday morning.
Kroll was interviewed by Roshini Rajkumar, who acknowledged that she is friends with Kroll but the interview was fair, balanced and Kroll was not allowed to see questions before the interview took place.
Asked about speculation that he was in Washington, D.C. when President Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kroll denied being there.
"I was at home or at work, I never left the state," he said. "I wish had the time or the energy or the desire to just jump on a plane and go somewhere on a whim. I wasn't even interested in going to the event I was accused of being at."
The City of Minneapolis confirmed to Bring Me The News last week that it is investigating allegations of two city employees attending the pro-Trump rally and insurrection in D.C.
Kroll noted that he does not believe President Trump incited the violence at the Capitol, saying Trump twice said "come peacefully." You can read a transcript of Trump's entire speech at the Jan. 6 rally here, which he said:
"I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."
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Kroll reacts to Mayor Frey 'Good riddance' comment
After announcing plans to retire last week, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey retweeted Bring Me The News' story and wrote "Good riddance," to which Kroll reacted during the Sunday interview.
"For him to say that to me, that just shows what he thinks of the police officers. I didn't just steal this position. I've been elected by the members," Kroll said. "I think that says what the mayor thinks of his police department, that's a shame."
Kroll said he was originally planning to retire in May 2021 but instead took a buyout offered to all city employees by the City of Minneapolis, which he said was too good to pass up.
"It was a very nice incentive package," he said, "but you had to go by the end of January."
Kroll said he'll have nothing to do with the Minneapolis Police Federation once he retires.
"No. Not at all," he said. "I'm out. I'm going to enjoy retirement."
"I will be radio silent," he added. "What happens in the federation going forward is up to the leadership and the board and the membership. I am completely out."
