On September 27, 2024, the Minot City Council allotted $50,000 to Clark Hill (a multinational law firm), to conduct an external investigation into the Minot Police Department, specifically the leadership (not just Chief Klug). The report finds there was no information to support the existence of: a hostile work environment, inconsistent discipline, police staff lacking confidence in leadership, a significant number of resignations in police from 2019-2024 (they were far more significant in dispatch) or Chief Klug engaging in any retaliatory action
In fact, the report stated, “this investigation cannot conclude that there is a failure of leadership as Chief Klug can perform his job duties as set forth in his Job Descriptions and City Ordinance.” (page 10)
I thought, at a minimum, this would result in an administrative action and Chief Klug being released from the administrative leave he has been on since September 11, 2024. Minot Police Department policies state that administrative leave may be used “When a complaint of misconduct is of a serious nature, or when circumstances indicate that allowing the accused to continue to work would adversely affect the mission of the Department (Policy 1005.8) Further the report recommends “investigation of workplace conduct should not be based upon the substantiation of a criminal case. The burden of proof is different for a criminal case and lower for an employment action. An administrative action should move forward so that employees do not remain on period administrative leave while a criminal investigation is taking place” (page 14).
Clearly, I was wrong. Chief Klug remains on administrative leave and the City Council has approved an additional $50,000 for more “investigation.”
To be sure, the report found areas of improvement for Chief Klug to concentrate on. However, none of these recommendations would suggest continuing his administrative leave. In fact, recommendation #8 centers on an administrative decision being made and if that decision is “unfounded,” “exonerated,” or “not sustained.” Chief Klug’s administrative leave should end immediately, I appreciate that the City feels that a new issue(s) arose during this investigation that necessitated an additional $50,000 appropriation. I hope this “issue” is of such import that it requires keeping Chief Klug on administrative leave for 80+ days.
Carrie Evans
Minot City Council
2020-2024
