Court Rules In Favor Of Richfield's Move To Fire Police Officer

RICHFIELD, MN — The Minnesota Court of Appeals Monday overturned the decision of an independent arbitrator that had reinstated the employment of Officer Nate Kinsey with the Richfield Police Department.

Kinsey was terminated by the department for alleged misconduct related to a 2015 incident captured on video showing him "physically and verbally abusing a teenager," according to the city.

City officials said the termination was based on "a deliberate failure to follow mandatory reporting procedures related to that use of force incident and a pattern of inadequate reporting going back several years."

Richfield Mayor Pat Elliott praised the court's decision in a statement, saying:

"I believe that the court properly balanced the rights and obligations of each of the parties to this case, but recognized the paramount interests of the citizens of our community."

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