Investigation cost over $45,000
Five Northfield police officers had internal complaints filed against them. The City hired Everett and VanderWiel to investigate the allegations back in November 2015. Information given by the City after a data request says that “The complaints were investigate” for all 5 officers. Four officers status reads “No disciplinary action was taken”. One officer’s status reads “There is no final disposition of the complaints”. KYMN asked for further information which was denied by the City saying,basically, that data would be so redacted it would be of little information value. The total cost to the City for the investigation is just under $46,000.
My story from 4-26-16:
After KYMN filed 2 data request forms, the City responded with redacted information regarding disbursements to Everett and VanderWiel totaling over $30,000. From that information it appears the City started using the investigative services of the company in November 2015. One of the early charges lists a Union identified as LELS, that stands for Law Enforcement Labor Services, the police union. It was a nearly 6 hour meeting in December that included reviewing information from complainants, identifying discrete allegations and work on a plan for investigation. It then says, send information requests to City and to LELS. On January 11th of this year, there is a charge for reviewing communications from complaints regarding additional concerns; conference with HR Director Michelle Mahowald and contact with LELS to arrange and confirm follow-up meetings. A summary of allegations by the respondent was provided to a B. Fitzsimmons. He appears to be Brandon Fitzsimmons of Flaherty & Hood, the City’s retained law firm. According to his bio, Fitzsimmons is a senior attorney who concentrates on public labor and employment law.
Below is the City’s full response on the last data request:
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