Minneapolis officer named as third suspended cop -- but he's not

Concerned by reports that a third black Minneapolis police officer had been suspended in connection with an ongoing federal misconduct investigation, several community leaders took their complaints public Wednesday.

The only problem is that it wasn't true.

At a news conference, members of the Police Community Relations Council complained that the investigation was unfairly targeting black officers.

They then ticked off a long list of allegations -- including bribery, prostitution, drugs, mortgage fraud and passing along confidential information -- they said led department brass to suspend Sgt. Kelvin Pulphus.

But Pulphus was on duty Wednesday.

Chief Tim Dolan said no additional officers had been suspended since Friday when Lt. Lee Edwards, one of five high-ranking black officers who has sued the department for racial discrimination, and officer Mike Roberts were relieved of duty.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation that resulted in Edwards and Roberts being placed on administrative leave said that FBI agents had also interviewed Pulphus but that the department had decided against suspending him.

"He has not intentionally done anything wrong during anytime as an officer," said Short. "He is happy to cooperate in any investigation, including this federal investigation. I'm confident he will be exonerated as the investigation takes its course."

Short wouldn't disclose why federal agents wanted to talk to Pulphus.

The investigation, now being handled by the FBI, started with an incident of police misconduct within the department more than a year ago, according to sources with knowledge of the case.

The investigation also played a role in Dolan's removal of Edwards last summer as head of the department's Fourth Precinct, the sources said.

On Monday, Edwards also learned that he wasn't a finalist for the police chief's job in Northfield.

No apologies

After learning that Pulphus remained on duty, Ron Edwards, a member of the Police Community Relations Council (PCRC) refused to admit he may have tarnished Pulphus' reputation.

When asked to explain where he heard that Pulphus had been relieved of duty, Ron Edwards declined to discuss his sources.

He did describe several specific details regarding Pulphus' role in the investigation, which was confirmed by sources with knowledge of the investigation.

"I asked my sources for specific details and was quite comfortable with their authenticity," he said. "I consider Pulphus to be a good officer, but I don't stand down from what I know."

Moss said he wondered why federal officials have spent so much time investigating the black officers when council member requests to look into more serious allegations had been ignored.

"We are sick and tired of being sick and tired," Metoyer said. "It appears they are only going after black officers, which is part of the continued bleaching of the Minneapolis Police Department. We stand behind the officers and hope they get a fair shake."

The investigation, Metoyer said, is further proof of the department's institutional racism.

Dolan declined to comment on the racism allegations. According to department records, 12 of the 15 officers who were terminated or quit while under investigation during the two years Dolan has served as chief were white.

Flowers, who said he's received many calls in support of the black officers, said Minneapolis residents should be more concerned about the 23 people injured in shootings last month. All but one, he said, were black.