Saint Paul Mayor Denies Independent Probe Into Operation That Injured Journalists and Protestors

ST. PAUL, Minn. — At a March 4 meeting of the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission, members learned that Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her’s administration is denying their request for an independent investigation into the police response during the November 25 federal immigration operation on Rose Avenue.

The civilian oversight commission requested that an independent investigator be hired to review the actions of the Saint Paul Police Department during the operation. The incident sparked dozens of complaints about the level of force used and left three journalists injured while covering the scene. In the commission’s 11-year history, this is the first time the body has requested an independent investigation.

During the March 4 meeting, commissioners were informed that the mayor’s office was denying the request and that the investigation would remain inside the department through its Internal Affairs process, which officials say is already underway.

“I am disappointed that we are not able to deploy an independent investigator to review the civilian complaints,” said PCIARC Chair Erin Hayes during the meeting.

I attended the March 4 meeting in person. Only one other journalist joined remotely. I was also on the ground live-streaming during the Rose Avenue operation and witnessed excessive use-of-force by SPPD first hand. The incident drew widespread attention after three journalists working for Reuters, MPR News, and Sahan Journal were attacked while covering the event, with one transported from the scene by ambulance. Which now raises concerns about the ongoing pattern of press freedom violations in Minnesota.

Video evidence I previously reported appears to contradict statements made by Saint Paul’s police chief about officers being attacked that night. Footage reviewed and published earlier shows officers deploying pepper balls and chemical agents toward crowds, including areas where journalists were present. In one of the videos you can see an individual with a cane being sprayed directly in the face, then slammed to the ground. The footage also raises questions about whether the Saint Paul Police Department was abiding by the city’s sanctuary policy.

In a letter to the commission, the mayor’s administration said hiring an independent investigator could interfere with the department’s ongoing investigation.

“The SPPD Internal Affairs unit currently has an open investigation regarding the Rose Street incident,” the letter states. “Hiring an independent investigator risks compromising the investigative process and any resulting discipline.”

City officials say the Internal Affairs (IA) investigation requires reviewing extensive evidence connected to the event. According to a statement provided to me from Mayor Her’s office, investigators must examine hundreds of hours of body-camera footage, videos submitted by the public, social media footage discovered by investigators, and conduct interviews with officers and others involved.

Officials say they hope the review will be completed within about a month, potentially by the first week of April, though no firm deadline has been set.

The administration says the IA process is designed to investigate allegations of misconduct or policy violations and ensure officers are held accountable to department standards, similar to how other city departments oversee employee conduct.

First Assistant Mayor Erica Schumacher said the city understands the public wants answers but cautioned against rushing the investigation.

“We know people want immediate answers after an event like this, but we cannot impose artificial deadlines on the investigative process,” Schumacher said in a statement. “We are committed to conducting due diligence transparently and will release the findings to the public as soon as doing so will not compromise the integrity of the process.”

The Mayor Her’s office also cited the Police Officer Discipline Procedures Act, Minnesota Statute 626.89, which governs how police misconduct investigations must be handled. Under the law, civilian review bodies may request an independent investigator only after a criminal investigation or prosecution concludes, if applicable.

Once the Internal Affairs investigation is completed, the Mayor's office says individual cases will be forwarded to the civilian oversight commission for review and recommendations before the police chief makes final determinations on discipline.

Still, the decision not to pursue an independent investigation frustrated not only members of the oversight body but some of the city council members.

"I am supportive of the PCIARC’s request for an independent investigation. My council colleagues and I have been in discussion with the Mayor’s Office to understand their stance as stated in the letter. I am committed to having this info and clear communication be shared to the public to ensure transparency and accountability in our systems," said Councilmember Nelsie Yang who represents Ward 6, the district where the operation occurred.

“The request from the Police Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission for an independent investigation was highly unprecedented and deserves serious consideration,” said ward 7 Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson in a statement. “While an Internal Affairs investigation is underway, I believe an independent review would have helped strengthen public confidence in the process. At a minimum, the City Council and the public deserve clarity about the investigation’s timeline, scope, and access to evidence.”

Johnson added that after returning from maternity leave and meeting with city administration officials, she intends to continue pushing for oversight and transparency around the investigation.

Data included in the meeting’s agenda packet shows complaints against Saint Paul police typically average about seven per month, ranging between two and eleven. But the months following the Rose Street incident saw a sharp increase.

The number jumped to 29 complaints, followed by 20 the next month, more than a 300% increase compared with the department’s typical monthly average, according to commission records. The spike represents more than three times the department’s typical monthly complaint volume.

The issue of press access and safety during the Rose Avenue operation carries additional significance for me. I am currently facing federal charges connected to my reporting in Saint Paul, as a troubling pattern is emerging that raises serious questions about whether journalists can safely document law enforcement activity in the city and whether First Amendment protections are being upheld.

Until the investigation concludes, key questions remain about the police response on Rose Avenue — including what accountability, if any, will follow after three journalists were injured while covering the operation.