[TheeBadOne]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3636594.html

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, a former newspaper reporter who pledged to throw open the doors of City Hall, on Wednesday ordered police officials to get permission from the city communications office before talking to reporters.

Citing what he called the "sad truth" of the public's perception of police service, Rybak said in a memo to Chief Robert Olson that he was "centralizing all strategic decisions about how -- and when -- the Police Department communicates with the public via the media."

In several moves, Rybak has taken control over who is allowed to speak for the city.......
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Apparently the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to Police Officers :banghead:

[Vladimir Berkov]

This is not a 1st amendment issue, you don't have a right to free speech at your job.

[Leatherneck]

It may not be a first amendment issue per se but it's a sure sign that something's rotten in Minnesota. In my line of work, I deal with weapon system program managers who preside over a wide variety of major acquisition programs. Some are healthy, well-run, disciplined and have open communications. Some aren't, and don't.
Almost invariably, the programs that start out with open communications at all levels wind up producing weapons at least close to on-time and on-cost, with only limited deficiencies. The programs that "stop talking" usually have cost and schedule overruns and the systems fielded have many, many deficiencies or problems that the trigger-pullers have to live with.

Sunshine is a disinfectant.

TC
TFL Survivor

[DeltaElite]

Many depts have rules regarding speaking to the press.
Typically the Police Information Officer is the mouth piece for the dept.

We recently made a change where any officer can talk to the press, but you better not say something stupid.
It's best I don't talk to the press, since I would tell them the truth and that would anger the dept. ;)

[griz]

Lots of departments and organizations do this.
It’s not so much that they want to muzzle the work force, but rather to avoid the public perception that when Officer X is on the local TV newscast he is speaking for the department.

[mpthole]

I can't remember ever reading a quote from anyone but the Mpls police communications person. Whenever there's a shooting/murder/you-name-it, its always their communication person or the chief that makes the statements.

My thoughts are that there's something else behind this.

[TheeBadOne]

Rybak and Olson have publicly battled. Last year, the mayor tried to fire the chief, then realized he didn't have enough City Council support to do so. The two agreed on a public truce and appear to work together.
Looks like the Mayor is doing an End Run to control what he can, how he can, any way he can.

[Standing Wolf]

I wonder what the mayor might be afraid of.

[mpthole]

Interesting follow up story in today's paper, click here (http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/3639007.html)
Rybak also moved police spokeswoman Cyndi Barrington's job into Plewacki's department. Barrington then resigned.
Sheesh, what a bunch of political infighting... the previous spokeswoman resigned after being forced into reporting to the city Communications Director instead of reporting to the Chief.
Barrington said from her home Thursday that she was told that Rybak and Plewacki were concerned that she didn't provide media outlets with enough "positive stories."

"I don't control the media," she said. "The public has a right to know the good and bad, and my job was to put out fact."
Guess she did her job a little too well.