Rochester Police Department Accused of Open Records Violation

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A popular volunteer-run organization is accusing the Rochester Police Department of an open records violation.

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The group is called MN Crime, which describes itself as a non-partisan multi media public safety information network.

A press release posted to the group’s Facebook page, which has over 300,000 followers, says the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings has agreed to hear their case.

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Rochester Police Department Accused of Open Records Violation Regarding Fatal Crash Involving State Trooper

The dispute revolves around the crash that killed 18-year-old Olivia Flores this past May at an entrance to the Apache Mall in Rochester.

Minnesota State Trooper Shane Roper is accused of causing the crash that killed the young Owatonna woman and injured five others on May 18. He’s since been charged for the crash, which was investigated by the Rochester Police Department.

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MN Crime alleges that the police department has refused to release videos of the fatal crash.

Becca Chartier, who is described in the press release as the head of MN Crime says, “Our position on this matter is clear: when an officer uses deadly force, the public has the right to know. It doesn’t matter if the deadly force is a bullet, a car or a knee - the law is clear that the video must be made public within 14 days.”

Chartier calls the police department’s reasoning for not releasing the video an “odd position.”

We have an especially strong case since Rochester Police claimed excessive forces were involved in the crash in a criminal affidavit. For them now to say that ‘excessive force’ doesn’t mean ‘force’ is certainly an odd position.
- MN Crime Head Becca Chartier

In s statement to KROC News, Rochester Police Department Communications Coordinator Amanda Grayson said, "RPD is aware of the filing, and the City will respond to the Office of Administrative Hearings complaint within the required timelines."

MN Crime press release on Facebook

The hearing date for the case in the Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings, which is not a criminal or civil court, has not been released.

Story updated to include statement from the Rochester Police Department