Minneapolis mayor criticizes police union head over Lynx comments

Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges criticized police union head Bob Kroll for his comments about the Minnesota Lynx’s Black Lives Matter shirts.

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Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges criticized the city’s police union head Bob Kroll over comments he made about four officers’ decision to walk out of a Minnesota Lynx game.

Saturday, four Minneapolis officers working as independent contractors walked off their jobs at a Lynx game after players wore shirts with the phrase Black Lives Matter on them. The players spoke out against violence before the game, condemning violent acts against two black men as well as the killing of five Dallas police officers.

Kroll said he “commended” the officers for their decision to leave, and also said only four officers were working the game because the team was “pathetic” at selling tickets.

Hodges responded to Kroll in a Facebook post.

“Bob Kroll's remarks about the Lynx are jackass remarks,” Hodges wrote. “Let me be clear: labor leadership inherently does not speak on behalf of management. Bob Kroll sure as hell doesn't speak for me about the Lynx or about anything else.”

Minneapolis’s chief of police Janee Harteau also criticized the walk-out.

“Although these officers were working on behalf of the Lynx, when wearing a Minneapolis Police uniform I expect all officers to adhere to our core values and honor their oath of office,” Harteau said. “Walking off the job and defaulting on their contractual obligation to provide a service to the Lynx does not conform to the expectations held by the public for the uniform these officers wear.”