MINNEAPOLIS – Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara doubles down and says again that he knew nothing about a controversial video before hiring a new officer.
RELATED: Chief O’Hara disputes MPD union claims he knew about Tyler Timberlake’s controversial history before he was hired
MPD hired Tyler Timberlake about six months ago. Timberlake had been charged, but acquitted, of striking and using a stun gun on an unarmed black man while an officer at a Virginia police station. The incident happened just days after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department in 2020.
The Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis says Chief O’Hara was “fully aware” of Timberlake’s history. O’Hara again denied the claim Monday.
The Fairfax County Police Department
“I wouldn’t have signed that lease if I witnessed the behavior in that video,” O’Hara said.
RELATED: MPD says an officer hired after being charged and acquitted of assault on an unarmed black man is no longer with the department
O’Hara said he didn’t know the video existed until he received a media report about it in April.
Last week, WCCO reported that Timberlake is no longer with the police.
O’Hara says he is determined to straighten out MPD’s hiring process.
WCCO personnel
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