The Chief of Minneapolis Police has quit, saying the killing of Australian Justine Damond (pictured) has caused her to step aside for a 'fresh set of leadership eyes'. Photo: Stephen Govel
The Chief of Minneapolis Police has quit, saying the killing of Australian Justine Damond (pictured) has caused her to step aside for a 'fresh set of leadership eyes'. Photo: Stephen Govel
By Sarah Blake, News Corp Australia Network
The Chief of Minneapolis Police has quit, saying the killing of Australian Justine Damond has caused her to step aside for a 'fresh set of leadership eyes'.
A crowd of protesters cheered news of Chief Janee Harteau's resignation as they gathered in the city's Loring Park.
More than 200 people of mixed race and age turned out for the Black Lives Matter march, set to start at 7pm local time. They are planning to march to City Hall, where Mayor Betsy Hodges has scheduled a press conference in just over an hour's time.
A crowd of protesters cheered news of Chief Janee Harteau's (centre) resignation. Photo: AP
Earlier, in a statement posted on the Minneapolice police department's website, Chief Harteau said the tragedy had caused to 'engage in deep reflection'.
"The recent incidents do not reflect the training and procedures we developed as a department," she says. "(But) I have to put the communities we serve first ... the city of Minneapolis deserves the best."
Harteau, who worked her way up from the bottom of the department to become the city's first female, first openly gay and first Native American police chief, said she was proud of the work she accomplished and honored to serve as chief.
Her resignation comes just a day after she implored the officer behind the shooting, Mohamed Noor, to come forward and speak about the incident.
"I would prefer he would talk - there are questions that need to be answered and only he can answer them," she said.
The investigation is being hampered by a lack of video evidence, with neither officer having turned on their uniform bodycams either during or after the shooting - despite police policy.
Chief Hartneau said the department was reviewing its video policy as a result of Ms Damond's death.
She also admitted the tragedy had made people frightened to call police.
"Although disheartening I understand the fear and why it exists. This has had a negative impact on the community trust we've built."
Chief Harteau has been criticised for remaining on holidays for four days after Ms Damond was killed.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges said she asked for the chief's resignation.
"As far as we have come, I've lost confidence in the Chief's ability to lead us further - and from the many conversations I've had with people around our city, especially this week, it is clear that she has lost the confidence of the people of Minneapolis as well," Hodges said.
Protester yelling at the mayor of Minneapolis during her press conference on the police chief's ouster, calling for the mayor's resignation pic.twitter.com/m2WRkZFCNv
Protesters interrupted the mayor's follow-up press conference, taking over the cameras and demanding her resignation.
WITNESS MAY REVEAL JUSTINE'S FATE
Investigators are questioning a cyclist who witnessed the shooting of Justine Damond as the police officer behind her killing maintains his silence.
A statement just released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) says the witness was riding east along West 51 Street as the shooting unfolded, and stopped to watch as officers sought to revive Ms Diamong after she had been shot in the stomach.
"The individual has been cooperative and provided an interview today," the statement reads.
But the police officer at the centre of the controversy has again refused to talk.
"Officer Mohamed Noor has not provided a statement regarding the incident and has declined to be interviewed by BCA agents," the statement says. "Officer Noor's attorney has not provided any update about when, if ever, an interview would be possible. Under the law, the BCA cannot compel the testimony of the officer."
Meanwhile, the lawyer for the cop who killed Justine Damond has suggested the Aussie life coach was on drugs in an attempt to divert blame from Mohamed Noor.
Minneapolis criminal lawyer Tom Plunkett told CBS that he is waiting for a second lab to go over the autopsy reports to see if Damond had taken the sleeping pill, Ambien. The second lab test is standard and takes from four to eight weeks.
He said it would be "nice to know if there was any Ambien in her system".
Damond family spokesman Tom Hyder described Mr Plunkett's insinuation as "sickening".
"We were told at the beginning that this might happen, that they would try to turn this around and make things up about Justine," Mr Hyder said.
A neighbour of the police officer says Noor "doesn't really respect women". Photo: AP
Mr Plunkett also said that Noor still had no plans to talk to investigators.
It came as Noor's boss laid the blame for Damond's death squarely on his shoulders.
"We are talking about one individual's action," said Minneapolis police chief Janee Harteau.
"There will be a criminal investigation but from what I have seen Justine did not have to die."
HOW THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDED
Ms Damond, 40, was shot dead by Officer Noor in her pyjamas late on Saturday night after calling 911 to help a woman she heard screaming in her back lane, whom she believed was being sexually assaulted.
Minneapolis Police on Friday told News Corp they have been unable to find any evidence suggesting an attack was taking place.
Noor and his partner, Officer Matthew Harrity responded to Ms Damond's emergency call and radioed their base to report they couldn't see anyone in the lane when they arrived, eight minutes after her first 911 call.
Moments later, Noor fired on Ms Damond through the driver-side door after hearing a loud banging noise and seeing a man riding a bike nearby. His lawyer has suggested Noor, who was holding his gun as they patrolled, feared he was being "ambushed". This claim drew a sharp response from Ms Damond's family, who said they were considering a civil claim to defend the reputation of the yoga teacher, vet and motivational speaker.
FRIENDS DEMAND JUSTICE
Her stepson Zach Damond was among a crowd of about 200 who last night took part in a 1.5km peace march from the home on her street where was shot.
Among the locals gathered there were Taylor Meyer, a young mother from neighbouring Bloomington who attended out of what she described as a sense of duty.
"I have been following this story from the first moment, and it's kind of scary. This poor woman could have been any of us and there was no reason for it to happen," she said.
"If it one of my friends who had been killed like this, then I hope we would show up and try to do something to change things."
Also in the crowd was Valerie Castile, whose son Philando was shot by a Minnesota policeman just over a year ago. His killing, and the shooting by police of Jamar Clark in November 2015, have galvanised protesters in the city, aligned with different groups including Black Lives Matter, some of whom marched last night.
"I am just here to support the family," Ms Castile said.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
Officers Noor and Harrity are both on paid administrative leave as the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigates the shooting.
County attorney Mike Freeman will then consider whether or not to charge Noor with murder. The maximum penalty for first degree murder in Minnesota is life in prison, but it is unclear whether this would be the charge.
Harrity has given his account of events to investigators, but so far Noor has refused to talk to the BAC.
Friday's press conference was Chief Harteau's first public appearance since the shooting four days ago and she faced criticism for continuing to enjoy a holiday as the crisis unfolded.
She promised she would push for justice for Ms Damond.
