Minneapolis police officer’s status remains unclear

What’s the status of Minneapolis police Lt. Lee Edwards, who was put on paid administrative leave in April pending an undisclosed federal investigation into alleged misconduct? Depends on who you ask. A source close to the situation told the Minnesota Independent on Wednesday that Edwards had received a letter this week from the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) Internal Affairs Unit indicating he had been cleared of the allegations against him.

But police representatives deny that. Sgt. David Follano of the Internal Affairs Unit said Wednesday he couldn’t disclose any details about the matter, except to say that "no disposition has been made," adding, "The case is still under investigation." Carol Schendel, who works in Police Chief Tim Dolan’s office, also vouched that Edwards’ "status hasn’t changed."  

Edwards and Officer Mike Roberts, a 30-year veteran of the department, had both been suspended on April 19. It was not clear whether the two cases were connected; nor was the nature of the allegations against Edwards released.

Previously, Edwards led the Homicide Unit. He was transferred from the unit into the Fourth Precinct. He had been accused of drinking and driving and making inappropriate remarks.  Even though those allegations were eventually dropped, he wasn’t returned to his former post. In response to that, Edwards joined a discrimination lawsuit along with with four other prominent black police officers against the MPD and Chief Dolan. Furthermore, Edwards had been a finalist for the Northfield Police Chief position before word of his suspension came out. He didn’t get the job.

Neither Edwards’ attorney, Andrew Muller, nor Sgt. John Delmonico, the president of the Police Federation of Minneapolis, returned the Minnesota Independent’s calls on Wednesday.