Brooklyn Center, Minnesota Mayor Mike Elliott fired City Manager Curt Boganey this week after Boganey said during a press conference that the police officer involved in the shooting of Daunte Wright would be provided due process.
During a news conference about the Sunday night death of Wright, Boganey was asked whether the officer who shot Wright would be fired.
“All employees working for the city of Brooklyn Center are entitled to due process with respect to discipline,” Boganey responded. “This employee will receive due process, and that’s all I can really say today.”
A few hours later, Elliott announced Boganey had been fired.
“Effective immediately our city manager has been relieved of his duties, and the deputy city manager will be assuming his duties moving forward,” Elliot wrote on Twitter. “I will continue to work my hardest to ensure good leadership at all levels of our city government.”
Boganey was reportedly dismissed during an emergency city council meeting where officials voted to not only oust him but also hand authority of the police department over to Elliott, according to the Minnesota Star-Tribune. The city council is also considering firing police chief Tim Gannon.
At least one city council member objected to firing Boganey but voted against him anyways because she feared “for her property and retaliation by protesters if she had voted to keep him,” the Star-Tribune reported.
“He was doing a great job. I respect him dearly,” Councilwoman Kris Lawrence–Anderson said. “I didn’t want repercussions at a personal level.”
Protesters have been rioting near Minneapolis ever since the shooting, leading Minnesota officials to declare an early curfew.
Videos of the riots show protesters hurling rocks, bottles, and fireworks at police officers, who were banned from using crowd control tactics during protests by the Brooklyn Center City Council.
Riot police currently stationed in Brooklyn Center #Minneapolispic.twitter.com/7xVf5oHxdd
— Cat Hyde Кот Хайд (I’m just here for my ban)?? (@KBoomhauer) April 12, 2021
