Embattled Minneapolis police officer fired again

An embattled Minneapolis police officer has been fired for the second time in a year.

Jason Andersen was notified Wednesday.The president of the officers union, Sgt. John Delmonico, says the department told Andersen he was untruthful about a 2008 incident in which he allegedly kicked a teen in the head. That incident resulted in a criminal charge against Andersen and a lawsuit.

Department spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia says the firing was "a nonpublic personnel issue" and that nobody with the department would comment.

Chief Tim Dolan fired Andersen over a different matter last year, but an arbitrator overruled him.

Andersen drew attention in 2006 when he killed 19-year-old Fong Lee, who Anderson said had pointed a gun at him. Lee's family insists police planted the gun near his body. Andersen was cleared by an internal investigation, a grand jury and a civil jury in a lawsuit by the family.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.