Retired Officer Brandy Steberg takes issue with the way the City of Minneapolis has communicated his exit from the Police Department
Minneapolis, MN August 19, 2020 – Retired Minneapolis Police Officer Brandy Steberg announced today that he is seeking to set the record straight when it comes to his departure from the Department. Steberg and another officer, Mark Bohnsack were initially terminated following a November 2018 incident at the department’s fourth precinct. While Bohnsack got his job back through arbitration, the city has insinuated through the media that Steberg was fired when in truth he was not.
“I honorably served the City of Minneapolis as a Police Officer for 23 years,” said Steberg. “In 2001, I was named Minnesota’s Officer of the Year. I was one of the most decorated Minneapolis Police Officers in the department. Now that has been tarnished by the city who wants to use me as a political pawn to look good.”
Steberg contends that the city isn’t being truthful to the public in order to repair its image following the Department’s involvement in the death of George Floyd on May 25.
“I am appalled and ashamed of the lack of leadership and integrity from Chief Arradondo and his administration,” said Steberg. “They talk a good game about requiring leadership and integrity from officers, but they aren’t able to show it themselves when it matters most.”
Steberg settled with the city regarding this matter in January of this year, months before the Floyd incident. The former officer contends that the department is trying to sway public opinion by making him look guilty to deflect attention away from the department’s current issues.
“I suffered a debilitating injury on duty that would later result in my in-the-line-of-duty medical retirement. Before I retired, the City terminated me for what were very clearly politically-motivated reasons,” said Steberg. “I commenced a grievance with the assistance of the Minneapolis Federation of Police and asserted various claims against the City of Minneapolis, including a claim for in-the-line of duty benefits.”
Steberg’s attorney, Jen Yackley, principle partner at Meuser, Yackley and Rowland said that her client has been used in a way that isn’t truthful or fair.
“Unfortunately, the City has tried to use Brandy to score political points,” she said. “Brandy’s case was settled in January. The City acknowledged that he was disabled in the line of duty. His termination was rescinded, and he separated from service on his own terms.” “I’m glad Brandy has an opportunity to set the record straight, when the City doesn’t seem to be interested in telling the truth about what happened.”
Steberg said he is happy for his former colleague, Bohnsack, getting his job back. He hopes that the city will retract its words regarding the circumstances surrounding his departure.
“Enough is enough. I don’t think it is necessary for my family to have to hear I was fired, when in truth I wasn’t” said Steberg. “I am being used at a time when the city needs to do something to look good in the eyes of the public. The city is using untruths from my case to soften the department’s image all at my expense.”
Steberg says he plans to tell his side of the story until the city changes its stance.
“The Minneapolis Police Department was a place I served faithfully for 23 years,” he said. “I feel that the service I did should be respected and not used for the benefit of damage control.”
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