Some cases get settled, some get dismissed, a few go to court and make the local papers. And over the past decade that has cost Minneapolis millions. The one name that stands out, however, is Lt. The city, particularly burned by cases involving off-duty officers, adopted a new policy for defending employees in 1997. And while Skarda acknowledges it's still rare for the city not to defend one of its officers, now the City Attorney's Office and department heads can recommend that the City of Minneapolis not defend an employee if he or she is guilty of malfeasance, willful neglect, or bad faith.
Employees have the right to appeal such a recommendation to an administrative law judge.
But Officer Tatro did not seek a hearing. Kevin Buford's attorney, Albert Goins, argues that when the MPD fired Tatro, they were acknowledging their liability. Police agencies that discipline the officers hold them to a high standard, as they should with regard to their internal policies. But then when a third-party civil litigant shows up they absolve themselves of any responsibility. I think it's hypocritical.