DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) - A North Dakota commission’s decision to ultimately fire a police chief and suspend his captain was made before a public vote was taken, which Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem found to be in violation of the state’s open meetings law.
An operations assessment revealed that some Devils Lake Police Department officers had lost faith in Chief Keith Schroeder and Capt. Jon Barnett to run the department, The Devils Lake Journal (https://bit.ly/2rd3HZb ) reported.
The Devils Lake City Commission responded to the assessment by discussing a course of action in private. They decided to place both officers on paid leave before a public vote.
In a recording of the closed session, Mayor Richard Johnson said that he spoke to Sergeant Jim Frank about a temporary promotion to interim chief.
“He’d be willing to do it,” Johnson said.
In the closed session the commission also discussed asking Frank to pretend he wasn’t aware of the temporary promotion.
“Hopefully he doesn’t say, ’I already told you I would,’” Johnson said. “Just tell him to play dumb when he comes in.”
It’s unclear what the violation means for Devils Lake since Schroeder and Barnett have accepted separation agreements.
The city isn’t expected to replace Capt. Barnett.
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Information from: Devils Lake Journal, https://www.devilslakejournal.com
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