South Side residents and community activists had sharp criticism for Minneapolis police Chief Janeé Harteau after she pulled out of a community forum Thursday night on police accountability because of the "potential for physical violence."
In her absence, they directed their anger at an empty chair where Harteau would have sat, symbolically placed onstage next to the other panelists.
The crowd of about 200 complained that the chief has ignored their concerns about the department's diversity issues and the quality of police service in the communities in which they live.
Harteau has come under mounting political pressure to reduce gun violence, particularly on the city's North Side, where a 17-year-old boy was gunned down last week in what neighbors called an ongoing gang turf war. The chief was invited to defend her record at the "listening session" at Sabathani Community Center, 310 E. 38th St., but pulled out because of security concerns.
She said she remained committed to working with residents to address their concerns, citing her "long history of attending community gatherings that are progressive and productive."
"The MPD received credible information from a long-standing community leader, in addition to a number of other sources, about planned physical disruptions at a 'community listening session' that I was scheduled to attend," Harteau said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. "Based on these known threats, which were outright and open in social media forums, I have decided it is in the best interest of community public safety to cancel my appearance. I am disappointed because I looked forward to hearing from the residents of Minneapolis."
Her decision didn't sit well with the audience, some of whom called for her ouster.
"For the chief to say that she's scared to come here, when she has 700 or more security people makes no sense to me," Lisa Clemons, a former Minneapolis police officer, told the panel, drawing loud applause.
