St. Paul City Council Delays Vote Amid Ongoing Controversy Over Police Use of Force During ICE Operation
The St. Paul City Council has delayed a vote on a resolution aimed at investigating police use of force during last week's federal immigration operation, sparking further concerns from community members and city officials.
In the wake of two arrests in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, where officers were seen deploying chemical irritants and projectiles, all seven council members, Mayor Melvin Carter, and Mayor-elect Kaohly Her have raised questions about the role of St. Paul police during the operation. The department's actions have been disputed by community leaders, who claim that the officers' presence was excessive and unnecessary.
The city council had initially called for a "thorough investigation" into the use of force and adherence to the city's separation ordinance, which prohibits municipal employees from enforcing federal immigration policies. However, after reviewing the language of the resolution, City Council President Rebecca Noecker has announced that the council is taking extra time to ensure it gets it right.
The Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission has already voted unanimously in favor of an independent investigation into the matter. The commission will present its findings to the city's Office of Financial Services, which will also be asked to determine the costs associated with the operation.
According to Police Chief Axel Henry, St. Paul officers were acting within their authority by enforcing laws and preventing potential breaches of public safety. However, community members remain skeptical about the department's actions and have called for greater transparency and accountability.
The city council now plans to introduce the resolution and vote on it at next week's meeting, marking an important step in addressing the ongoing controversy over police use of force during the ICE operation.
The St. Paul City Council has delayed a vote on a resolution aimed at investigating police use of force during last week's federal immigration operation, sparking further concerns from community members and city officials.
In the wake of two arrests in the Payne-Phalen neighborhood, where officers were seen deploying chemical irritants and projectiles, all seven council members, Mayor Melvin Carter, and Mayor-elect Kaohly Her have raised questions about the role of St. Paul police during the operation. The department's actions have been disputed by community leaders, who claim that the officers' presence was excessive and unnecessary.
The city council had initially called for a "thorough investigation" into the use of force and adherence to the city's separation ordinance, which prohibits municipal employees from enforcing federal immigration policies. However, after reviewing the language of the resolution, City Council President Rebecca Noecker has announced that the council is taking extra time to ensure it gets it right.
The Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission has already voted unanimously in favor of an independent investigation into the matter. The commission will present its findings to the city's Office of Financial Services, which will also be asked to determine the costs associated with the operation.
According to Police Chief Axel Henry, St. Paul officers were acting within their authority by enforcing laws and preventing potential breaches of public safety. However, community members remain skeptical about the department's actions and have called for greater transparency and accountability.
The city council now plans to introduce the resolution and vote on it at next week's meeting, marking an important step in addressing the ongoing controversy over police use of force during the ICE operation.
... like they really need more time to "get it right". I mean, come on, you're basically giving a green light for the cops to just keep doing whatever they want and not being held accountable. And what's with all these extra steps? The Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission is already saying they want an independent investigation... does that really need more review? 
Just get it done already!
. Just give it an outside agency and let them figure it out. And what's with all the back-and-forth between the city council and the police chief? Can't they just get on the same page already? I'm tired of all these delays and excuses... In my day, we didn't have all these fancy words and rules to hide behind. We just called it like we saw it and moved forward 
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, and it's good that the city council is taking extra time to get it right. But we also need to see some real change on the ground 
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this delay is just a smokescreen, you know? they're trying to sweep this under the rug. I mean, who needs transparency when you've got "extra time" to get it right? 
. The fact that there's a commission looking into it is good, but we need concrete actions taken, like actual accountability for the officers involved 
. It's not just about "doing their job" - it's about respecting the community they serve 
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. It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to issues like police accountability and community trust. I hope the city council gets it right next time around 
. This whole situation is a perfect example of how important transparency and accountability are in our law enforcement systems 
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I'm all for getting to the bottom of what went down during that ICE op but delaying the vote just means more time for people to get anxious 
. Can't they just introduce the resolution already and let the community decide? 
! And can we pls make sure that those officers who acted all out of line are held accountable? 
. I mean I get it, safety first, but come on... 
. Community members are right to be skeptical about the department's actions, especially when it comes to using chemical irritants and projectiles on people who aren't even suspects yet. It just feels like a lot of unnecessary aggression to me.
I hope next week's meeting brings some real answers and consequences for those responsible. We need to know what happened and why this kind of thing is happening in our city.
. But the city needs to take a closer look at its own policies and procedures too. How can we trust the police when they're not even following the rules themselves? 
They can't afford to rush into a decision when there are so many questions about what really went down at that immigration op 
, especially when it comes to using chemical irritants and projectiles on people who weren't even suspects yet! 
It's all about accountability and making sure we're protecting the rights of everyone in our community 
. I'm also loving that the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission is pushing for an independent investigation - now that's some real progress 
! Let's keep the pressure on, St Paul City Council, and make sure justice is served 
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But at the same time, I get why the community's all upset - they're still hurtin' from that whole ICE operation fiasco. 
Maybe we can get some answers if everyone just stays chill and keeps talkin'. 
. Like, how can they delay the vote when the community is already super stressed about what went down? The officers' actions were def excessive 
I'm not buying that they're just trying to get it "right" 
... like, how can you get something right when there's so much at stake? 
The fact that city officials are taking extra time to get it right is a good thing 
, but I'm still hella skeptical about the police department's actions during that ICE op 
The community needs to know what really went down in that Payne-Phalen neighborhood