Arbitrator Rules To Reinstate Ramsey Co. Deputy Fired For Animal Cruelty
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Ramsey County Sheriff's Deputy who was caught on camera abusing his K-9 partner is back on the job Tuesday.
Ramsey County fired Deputy Brett Berry after an internal investigation into his actions on a night in June 2015 when surveillance video captured him appearing to abuse his police dog, Boone.
Berry and the dog Boone were at a K-9 conference at a casino in Carlton when Berry admits to drinking too much and mistreating the dog. Berry plead guilty to one count of committing misdemeanor animal cruelty. In April 2016, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office fired Berry.
Berry filed a grievance through his law enforcement union and a third party arbitrator decided Berry deserves another chance to serve the public starting this week.
Seven-year-old Boone has been back on the street with a new partner for more than a year.
Ramsey County Chief Deputy Jack Serier personally oversaw the 10-month internal investigation into Berry's actions.
Serier stood by the agency's decision to let Berry go during a media availability on Tuesday afternoon.
The Law Enforcement Labor Services (LELS) union fought that decision and arbitrator decided since Berry fully took responsibility for his actions, and had an unblemished record for the 20 years he served the department prior to the incident with Boone, he deserves another but last chance to resume his career.
"These kinds of incidents tarnish the badge not just for our agency but all law enforcement agencies," Serier said. "It is not representative of all the great people that work at this agency."
Serier said the department now has to uphold the law, so Berry will return to work in the detention division.
Berry will not be allowed to have any contact with police dogs.
The sheriff's office said Boone is in excellent health.
According to the arbitration report, the veterinarian who examined Boone after the incident with Berry did not find any injuries.
WCCO did ask LELS and the arbitrator on the case for comment but did not hear back Tuesday.
Berry will not get any back pay as part of this agreement and the department said Berry will be monitored closely in his new role.
The department said it is confident Berry can still do his job up to the department's standards.