Police Return To Duty Policy

At a glance

What: Many speakers asked the Board to end the Police Department's five day return to duty policy after an officer involved fatal shooting (so officers stay on leave until the investigation is complete) and to provide a victim and family advocate. The case concerns a December 2025 police shooting of a man; the State Attorney General's report was released in July, after about seven months, according to speakers.
Where it stands: Public comment only on August 4 and September 1. The minutes record no Board discussion, vote or response.
Next: Watch for a communication or committee referral.

About a dozen speakers addressed the policy. Burnett (organizer of a campaign for the man shot) asked for a guaranteed victim and family advocate through the whole process, and for officers to stay on administrative leave until the investigation ends. Glenn asked the Mayor to use the authority of the office to change the five day policy; the speaker also said the Police Chief physically pushed the speaker during an earlier public meeting and that the standards applied to speakers were unequal. Kindeke urged partnership with the community on both changes.
Others said the shooting could have been avoided with crisis training, urged redirecting police funding to services, and criticized how long the report took. One resident said the City should not contract with ICE.

Roughly eight more speakers described body camera footage released after seven months, said officers drew weapons immediately and chased an unarmed man, called for training on mental health crises and for meeting with the affected community, and urged moving money from the police budget to mental health outreach. One speaker said the Attorney General concluded the death was "suicide by cop." A Ward 2 resident urged the Board to engage the community about officer involved shootings.
Another group of speakers on the same evening asked for more support for police and the removal of what they called lawlessness (see West Side Vehicle Break-Ins).

Another round of public comment on the shooting and accountability; no Board response recorded.

Many speakers asked to change the five day return to duty policy and add a victim advocate.