Golden Valley police officer fired after probe found she violated data practices act, made racist statements
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. -- A Golden Valley police officer was terminated this summer after an investigation found that she had disclosed private employee data without permission and made racist and offensive statements during staff meetings.
The investigation by law firm Green Espel started in March following approval from the city council, after a Golden Valley employee submitted a complaint alleging toxic and inappropriate work culture.
In the end, the firm recommended one officer - identified as Kristen Hoefling in publicly available documents – should be terminated because she violated the state's data practices law and made "racist and offensive" statements.
City documents show her last day of employment was Aug. 2. Seven other police officers were subject to the investigation, and all but one are no longer employed with the city. A spokeswoman for the city said 12 officers have left the department since March, but did not say if they left voluntarily or were dismissed. That leaves the city with 19 officers when it budgeted for 31.
The redacted report says that Hoefling disclosed "private personnel data regarding at least 26 city employees to fellow employees, including supervisory staff, members of the public, and to media outlets." She also made "racist and offensive statements" captured during a meeting in May of 2021, the report said.
The firm found she had secretly recorded that meeting, focused on equity and inclusion. It allegedly shows that though she was on mute, she was laughing during a discussion about health inequities for Black women. During a discussion about wealth disparities for Black Americans, she suggested that "they don't work."
Also during the meeting, the video presenter said "If you're like most Americans, you probably say to yourself all the time, systemic racism, is that really a thing?" Hoefling can be heard on the recording saying "no," the report says.
The firm determined that her comments were "racist, derogatory toward Black Americans, and offensive."
"The independent investigation was necessary to bring clarity to the allegations of misconduct, hold employees accountable, and have a better understanding of the systemic issues that harms the community trust in policing," said Tim Cruikshank, the city manager, in a statement.
The report prompted the city to start data practices training for all employees, and officials said they are continuing "numerous efforts to eliminate racist attitudes and behaviors."
A city spokeswoman said the city manager and police chief would not be interviewed about the investigation.
Hoefling refused to cooperate with the investigation, the report states. A spokeswoman for the police union representing the department said Hoefling would not comment about the situation and the union wouldn't either.
The law firm recommend the city restructure its diversity, equity, and inclusion training to first make sure that employees are capable of having productive, cross-racial dialogue with their colleagues and community members before presenting them with concepts about systemic racism.