Minneapolis officer fired for liking lynching comment
A Minneapolis police officer was fired after liking a Facebook comment that referenced lynching, city officials said.[1]
An internal Minneapolis Police Department investigation found the officer's online conduct violated department standards, the city said.[1] The termination occurs as the city remains under federal reform and oversight that increases scrutiny of officer bias and misconduct.[1]
In March 2024 the officer liked a Facebook comment in a department-affiliated group that called for the lynching of a Black murder suspect. That action prompted an internal affairs probe that concluded the conduct violated department standards. In 2015 the officer, identified in earlier reporting as Joseph Klimmek, received a letter of reprimand and one-on-one social media policy training after posting inflammatory comments on Facebook.
Minneapolis entered a federal consent decree filed in January 2025 that requires reforms to bar racial discrimination in enforcement and installs an independent monitor to assess implementation. The firing has renewed debate online about how the department enforces conduct rules and handles officers with prior discipline.
The mainstream summary does not mention the Minneapolis police union's ongoing fight against the officer's dismissal, which highlights the complexities surrounding accountability within the department. This resistance suggests a broader issue of institutional support for officers with histories of problematic behavior, as the officer had previously received social media training for similar infractions. Additionally, social media discussions reveal that the officer's support for lynching Black individuals occurred against the backdrop of ongoing reform efforts in Minneapolis following George Floyd's death, emphasizing the tension between public expectations for police conduct and the realities of enforcement culture.
Moreover, the summary overlooks the significant decline in the number of sworn officers in the Minneapolis Police Department, which dropped from 892 in 2018 to 585 by May 2023. This reduction reflects broader challenges within the department, including the impact of federal oversight and the necessity for reforms aimed at combating racial discrimination. The context of these statistics underscores the ongoing struggle for institutional trust and the implications of individual officer behavior on public confidence in law enforcement.[2][3]
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📊 Relevant Data
The Minneapolis Police Department had 585 sworn officers as of May 2023, down from 892 in 2018.
Investigation of the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department — U.S. Department of Justice
The federal consent decree with the City of Minneapolis and MPD, filed January 2025, requires reforms including barring racial discrimination in enforcement, stopping racially discriminatory policing, and respecting First Amendment rights, with an independent monitor to assess implementation.
Justice Department Reaches Agreement with the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department — U.S. Department of Justice
📌 Key Facts
- A Minneapolis police officer was fired for "liking" a Facebook comment that referenced lynching.
- The City of Minneapolis and MPD say an internal investigation found the officer’s online conduct violated department standards.
- The termination occurred while Minneapolis is under a federal reform and oversight framework, heightening scrutiny of officer bias and misconduct.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time