SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — According to the heads of the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, to their knowledge, none of their law enforcement officers were involved in the storming of the U.S. Capitol last week.
“I am not aware of any of our officers participating in the events in Washington D.C. on January 6th on their own time,” SFPD Chief Matt Burns said in an email. “In all instances, on-duty and off, our expectation is that officer conduct is of a high standard befitting their chosen profession and their oath. Our department’s further expectation regarding political involvement by officers is that they would follow City Ordinance 39.038 regarding political activity.”
It states:
39.038 POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
“No officer or employee under the civil service or appointive officers shall, directly or indirectly, contribute money or anything of value to or render service in behalf of the candidacy of any candidate for nomination or election to any city office. The expression in private of personal views concerning candidates for political office is not prohibited hereby. Violation of this section shall be grounds for discharge or other disciplinary action.”
Burns says any officer engaging in conduct or activity deemed to be of a potential criminal nature would be investigated by an independent agency, as is our standing practice.
“Any activity engaged in beyond that of peacefully asserting one’s rights under the 1st Amendment could be evaluated under our PD policy to ensure that it was in line with our expectation of high standards of personal and professional conduct,” Burns added.
Sheriff Milstead also said to his knowledge, none of his officers were involved in the melee in Washington, D.C.
“Any conduct or activity that would be criminal in nature would result in an investigation,” Milstead wrote in an email.
He also cited the MCSO’s policy on its officers’ political involvement.
2.7 Political Participation
“Nothing in this policy will prevent any employee from membership in any lawful political club or organization, from attendance at meetings, or from participating in a campaign while off-duty. Employees shall enjoy complete freedom from interference in exercising their voting rights.”
