Minneapolis police chief Janeé Harteau resigns in the wake of Cop fatally shooting Australian woman, Justine Damond, who called 911
Minneapolis police chief, Janeé Harteau, resigned Friday evening, in the aftermath of the death of Justine Damond
Chief Harteau resigned less than a week after her officer fatally shot Damond, who had called 911 to report a possible sexual assault outside her house
Officer Mohamed Noor shot Damond, a 40-year-old meditation teacher scheduled to be married next month as she approached the police cruiser
Noor and his partner, officer Matthew Harrity, claim they were startled by a loud sound
There’s no footage to back up their claim as both officers ‘turned off both their bodycams and the dashcams while answering a call
That act is contrary to police regulations and raised crticism of the dept
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges had expressed shock at the shooting and said in a Friday statement that it had shaken her belief in police leadership
Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau, [center], announced her resignation, Friday evening
Minneapolis police chief Janeé Harteau has resigned after her department was rocked by an officer-involved shooting that she slammed as “unnecessary.”
Harteau resigned Friday evening, less than a week after her officer Mohamed Noor shot and killed Justine Damond, who had called 911 to report a possible sexual assault outside her house.
Damond, a 40-year-old meditation teacher scheduled to be married next month, was fatally shot as she approached the police cruiser and the cops were startled by a loud sound.
Before her resignation, City police Chief Janeé Harteau described the shooting death of Justine Damond in Minneapolis was “unnecessary,” Thursday,
“Justine didn’t have to die,” Chief Harteau said of Saturday’s shooting.
The police-involved death has sparked outrage, particularly over why Officer Mohamed Noor’s body camera was not on when he fired the fatal bullet at Damond from the passenger seat of his police cruiser., outrage felt as far away as Damond’s native Melbourne.
Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has taken over the probe, and released information given by his partner, Matthew Harrity: “Based on the publicly released information from the BCA, this should not have happened,” Harteau said.
Harteau had declined to say if the shooting was unjustified under the law, adding “that’ll be part of the criminal investigation.”
The police slaying of Justine Damond’s death has sparked international outrage
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges had expressed shock at the shooting and said in a Friday statement that it had shaken her belief in police leadership.
“As far as we have come, I’ve lost confidence in the Chief’s ability to lead us further – and from the many conversations I’ve had with people around our city, especially this week, it is clear that she has lost the confidence of the people of Minneapolis as well,” she said.
Harteau said that she was stepping aside to allow “a fresh set of leadership eyes” to look at how to fix the department’s problems.
Justine Damond [left], was shot and killed outside her house on Saturday night, by officer Mohammed Noor
Officer Mohammed Noor has declined to speak with Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
“Last Saturday’s tragedy, as well as some other recent incidents, have caused me to engage in deep reflection,” she said in a statement, referring to Damond’s death.
“Justine didn’t have to die,” Harteau said Thursday of the shooting, adding that the evidence suggests it should not have happened.
An attorney for Noor, who along with his partner Matthew Harrity has been placed on administrative leave, said that his client feared an ambush when he was arriving on scene.
Damond, in her pyjamas, was unarmed, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating.
The BCA said Friday that Noor, a 31-year-old officer with less than two years experience in the department, has refused to be interviewed about what happened.
Justine’s fiancé, Don Damond, is comforted outside his home by Valerie Castile, mother of police shooting victim, Philando Castile
Outrage over Damond’s death, felt in her native Sydney as well as across the U.S., comes as the national conversation on police-involved shootings has centered on the Twin Cities.
Damond’s family has hired the same lawyer as the family of Philando Castile, a 32-year-old cafeteria worker killed by an officer at a suburban St. Paul traffic stop last year.
St. Anthony officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted of charges including manslaughter last month.
Castile’s mother Valerie Castile attended a rally in support of Damond’s family and met with her fiancé Don on Thursday night.
Minneapolis police also came under scrutiny for the controversial shootings including the death of Jamar Clark in November 2015. No charges were filed in that case.
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