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Jason Andersen, the police officer who shot and killed Fong Lee (pictured), has been fired by the Minneapolis Police Department. The development comes after the fourth-year officer was arrested following a domestic disturbance in June. A criminal charge against Anderson was dismissed two weeks ago, but apparently the incident prompted an internal affairs investigation that led to his dismissal.
In May a federal jury ruled that Anderson did not use excessive force when he shot the 19-year-old North Minneapolis resident eight times following a foot chase in July 2006. Lee’s family had maintained in the civil lawsuit that he was unarmed and gunned down for no justifiable reason.
The Minneapolis Police Federation is not happy about Anderson’s firing. The organization’s vice president, Lt. Bob Kroll, told the Pioneer Press that Anderson is being unfairly retaliated against and that the union has already discussed the matter with an attorney. Kroll described Anderson as a “good, hard-nosed street cop.”
“In the current administration that’s not tolerated,” he told reporter David Hanners. “They don’t want big, tough street cops. They feel he got them negative press over Fong Lee, so they’re going to make him pay.”
Others are saluting the development, however. TakeAction Minnesota released a statement praising Andersen’s dismissal. The organization is also calling on the MPD to hire more minority officers and appoint a Hmong community liaison to prevent future incidents.
“The Hmong community is relieved that Officer Jason Anderson has been fired from the Minneapolis Police Department, apparently as a result of an internal investigation,” reads the statement from Dai Thao and Amee Xiong, who oversee TakeAction Minnesota’s Hmong organizing program. “Since Fong Lee’s shooting death in July 2006, the Hmong community has been fearful of the Minneapolis Police — the very people who are supposed to protect us. That is why since Fong Lee’s death, our community has been united in working to bring significant change to the Minneapolis Police Department so this kind of thing doesn’t happen to anyone in our community again.”
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8 Comments »
Comment posted September 17, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
There is a kind of quiet vindication of justice in the Hmong community with the news of Andersen being fired.
Yet, every Minneapolis politician and/or political gatekeeper still wants all of us to forget that at one time they were quite the defenders to the death for this cop, his actions, and those of the MPD. Notice their silence continues even today.
Or, as many Hmong activists have feared all along…this is the perfectly executed political and legal ploy that now allows for the MPD and the City of Minneapolis from bearing ANY responsibility or accountability in the case…since the officer is no longer an employee of the city???
An independent FEDERAL investigation of the MPD is long overdue, as has been called for…in the Fong Lee case!!!
Justice demands a thorough investigation of the failings of MPD and those who continue to support their cover-ups and corrupted chain of command. It’s blatantly clear that the MPD and political gatekeepers are getting away with it…unless the free press also do their job in getting some answers!
There has been a groundswell of expectations that our local presses, our Minneapolis elected leaders, and our justice system will sooner or later come clean on this case.
Does any local media have the courage as real journalists to make the link between this case and the cops at the Gang Strike Force? The handling of evidence and the treatment of suspects and crime scenes are not only similar, but some of the officers are the same!
Comment posted September 17, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Put my comments back on!
Comment posted September 17, 2009 @ 8:39 pm
MPD dismissal of Officer Anderson was dismay and unthinkable. Now that the heat is on MPD, they feel the need to get Officer Anderson off their shoulder so that this will change public image. I think the person who should be fire is the one who is in charge of hire newly officers and managing the department. The problem could have been avoid it if more monority officers were hired. The City of Minneapolis have two Hmong officer representing over 15,000 Hmong who resided in the city. About 30 to 38 Asian officers with MPD represented the Asian community. MPD has about a force of 600 officers. Can you any one see how under representing the Asian Commmunity in Minneapolis. Minneapolis residents should be proud of their diverse community but should we be proud of MPD. I term my instructor repeated in class to the us: the community should not have to reflect itself toward the department but the department should reflect itself toward the community. I would like to see MPD change their policy on hiring newly officer.
Comment posted September 17, 2009 @ 10:04 pm
I am so glad this redneck from Forest Lake who does not know a thing about Minneapolis or minorities is gone, gone, gone.
I just wish we could bring back the innocent from the dead.
Rest in peace, Fong Lee, and let’s hope Jason Anderson never walks on our streets or shoots again.
Comment posted September 18, 2009 @ 8:27 am
who shot a minority man 8 times and got off scott free (did not use excessive force??? BS!!!)… but …
domestic abuse off duty and gets fired… we are supposed to believe the justice system works for us?
Stop hiring Iraq war vets into police department duties. We are not Iraqis, and we actually do have rights guaranteed by the constitution.
To protect and serve
The Hmong have a right to fear. We all do.
Comment posted September 19, 2009 @ 10:12 am
This jack booted thug will probably appear in some redneck MN town as Chief of Police. No doubt.
When will people finally realize we have a two tier justice system in this country.
Pingback posted October 2, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
[...] Medal of Valor for his actions, but fired Anderson a few months later because he was accused of assaulting his wife. A grand jury later absolved Anderson of guilt in the case, but many in the Hmong community remain [...]
Comment posted October 4, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
You people are the problem, You are the ones whom make bad names for good, great cops! It disgusts me to think that
People are fearful of the wrong guys with guns, Minneapolis sucks, it sucks for everyone, not just minorities
It sucks for us all, how would the headlines have read if Fong Lee had been able to get a shot or two off, how
Would you feel than? Wake up! More thugs and wannabe thugs carry guns than anybody wants to admit
But we can all walk down the streets knowing that there are Hard-Nosed fearless Policeman protecting us
Its SAD that one HERO gets publicly accosted for his selfless actions, personally I feel less safe now knowing officer Andersen isn’t on his beat saving YOUR butts!
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