Duluth police officer with troubled history no longer with the department

DULUTH – This city’s only police officer to stand trial for an on-duty shooting, for which he was acquitted in 2022, is no longer with the Duluth Police Department.

Tyler Leibfried has been on paid administrative leave since December 2024 after he was accused of two incidents of criminal sexual conduct that did not lead to charges.

According to police spokeswoman Mattie Hjelseth, Leibfried is no longer on the force as of Dec. 23, 2025. No other information was shared.

Leibfried’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday.

Leibfried was hired in 2016. Since then there have been 21 complaints against him, according to records obtained through a data request. Much of his career has been spent on leave.

Most recently, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) investigated claims made by two women and delivered findings to the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office this summer.

One woman told investigators that Leibfried sexually assaulted her in his truck in November 2024 when she was blacked out from drinking. While the BCA was investigating, another woman came forward with allegations that Leibfried had made nonconsensual sexual advances toward her.

Duluth Police Chief Mike Ceynowa said the department initiated its own investigation.

In 2020, Leibfried responded to a call in downtown Duluth that ended with him firing six shots through an apartment door, wounding a man inside.

It is believed to be the only time a Duluth police officer has been charged with a crime for an on-duty shooting. He was acquitted of two felony charges in 2022.

Leibfried was put on leave following the shooting and returned to his position in May 2023.

Jared Fyle, who was hit by a bullet in the upper right of his back, received a $600,000 settlement from the city in 2024.

Leibfried got into an accident while responding to a call in 2016, resulting in a one-day suspension and extended probation period for careless driving.

In 2017, he was reprimanded for driving too fast without his lights and siren. Three months later Leibfried received another letter of reprimand after his rifle went off in the parking garage, hitting a squad car.