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Liz Sawyer

Reporter
Breaking news, crime and corrections
Sawyer graduated from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in newspaper and online journalism. She worships her alma mater's college hoops team and thinks an orange is, in fact, a suitable mascot.

Latest from Liz Sawyer

News & Politics

Minnesota police association sues POST Board for releasing IDs of ‘at least’ 257 undercover officers

A data request of employment history of Minnesota police officers led to the release of private data on undercover law enforcement, according to the lawsuit.
January 23, 2025
Minneapolis

Minneapolis council approves federal plan to address discriminatory policing

The City Council went into closed session for about seven hours Monday to go through the details of a consent decree, a legally binding agreement to reform policing.
January 7, 2025
News & Politics

A look at what’s in the agreement with the U.S. DOJ mandating police reforms in Minneapolis

Among the new rules: No foot pursuits without cause, no cuffing kids under 14, no off-duty work during suspensions.
January 7, 2025
Minneapolis

The City Council defunded the Minneapolis Mounted Patrol. Will cops on horseback be put to pasture?

Council members reallocated $150K away from the last remaining horseback unit in the state. Chief Brian O’Hara says his agency will seek alternative funding to try to save them.
January 4, 2025
News & Politics

Minneapolis reaches tentative agreement with the U.S. DOJ to secure consent decree mandating reforms

The document still requires sign off by the full City Council. If approved, it is expected to be filed in court early next week.
December 31, 2024
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke about the DOJ investigation Friday, June 16, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Bildtsen for the District of Minnesota, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara will hold a press conference tomorrow on a civil rights matter. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com
News & Politics

Former Minneapolis police union head Bob Kroll seeking Donald Trump’s nomination to be U.S. marshal

A 2023 settlement barred Kroll from serving in local law enforcement in Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties, but his attorney says that doesn’t prohibit him from joining a federal agency.
December 30, 2024
573500351
Twin Cities

Hennepin Juvenile Detention Center vows to boost staff, retrain officers to fix violations

County Commissioner Angela Conley condemned the practice of isolating kids as ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ and questioned why county operators were not finding ‘tangible solutions.’
December 13, 2024
The Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation, which runs the Juvenile Detention Center, claims its kids are being taught about social distancing. Detention staff: it's not happening.
News & Politics

Judge rules Minneapolis police ‘coaching’ records not public, sends narrow case to trial

The decision comes after a watchdog group waged a three-year legal battle to expose how the police force used the secretive coaching process.
December 5, 2024
News & Politics

Minneapolis reaches tentative agreement with the U.S. DOJ to secure consent decree mandating reforms

The document still requires sign off by the full City Council. If approved, it is expected to be filed in court early next week.
December 31, 2024
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke about the DOJ investigation Friday, June 16, 2023 Minneapolis, Minn. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Bildtsen for the District of Minnesota, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara will hold a press conference tomorrow on a civil rights matter. ] GLEN STUBBE • glen.stubbe@startribune.com
News & Politics

Former Minneapolis police union head Bob Kroll seeking Donald Trump’s nomination to be U.S. marshal

A 2023 settlement barred Kroll from serving in local law enforcement in Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties, but his attorney says that doesn’t prohibit him from joining a federal agency.
December 30, 2024
573500351
Twin Cities

Hennepin Juvenile Detention Center vows to boost staff, retrain officers to fix violations

County Commissioner Angela Conley condemned the practice of isolating kids as ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ and questioned why county operators were not finding ‘tangible solutions.’
December 13, 2024
The Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation, which runs the Juvenile Detention Center, claims its kids are being taught about social distancing. Detention staff: it's not happening.
News & Politics

Judge rules Minneapolis police ‘coaching’ records not public, sends narrow case to trial

The decision comes after a watchdog group waged a three-year legal battle to expose how the police force used the secretive coaching process.
December 5, 2024
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