After a Ramsey County grand jury cleared two St. Paul police officers Wednesday in last year's fatal shooting of Philip Quinn, authorities took an unprecedented step in hopes of strengthening public trust — they released more than 200 of pages of police reports, several 911 transcripts and a video of the shooting.
The move comes at a time of heightened tension about police use of force, and is the latest in a wave of changes by metro authorities to stem a tide of frustration that has mobilized activists across the nation.
"Things are changing, and we realize that the public is asking for more information," Police Chief Thomas Smith said at a Thursday news conference. "Whether it's good information or bad information, it's very important that we get this out, and that's why this is so unique — it is different — and I expect that these are things that we're going to be doing in the future so that the public and [media] can get, especially, the facts."
Evidence in officer-involved shootings becomes accessible to anyone when a grand jury returns a "no bill," or decides that officers should not be criminally charged for their actions. Quinn's death was among a number of officer-involved shootings in the metro last year that sparked activism.
The Hennepin County attorney's office is currently reviewing evidence in Minneapolis police's fatal shooting of Jamar Clark last year.
Authorities met privately Thursday with Quinn's fiancée, Darleen Tareeq, his mother and his brother to discuss the grand jury decision and show the video. Only Tareeq chose to view the video. She remains unconvinced that deadly force was warranted that day. "I think a lot of it was they were mad he got away the first time, and they didn't want to chase him again," said Tareeq, who has a daughter with Quinn. He also helped raise her other two children.
Tareeq initially called police about 1:30 p.m. last Sept. 24 when she arrived home in the 600 block of Canton Street and saw that Quinn, 30, had stabbed himself several times with a sharp object and locked himself in the garage.
Quinn fled when police arrived, and later returned home. He called his mother, who called 911 about 5:35 p.m. and said her son was schizophrenic and suicidal and hadn't taken his medication.