Breaking News: police chief appeals reprimand to state

Blooming Prairie Police Chief Greg Skillestad is appealing his recent reprimand by the city to the Minnesota Department of Administration.
The city recently issued an unfavorable performance review against the chief, which includes a written reprimand.
Skillestad and his attorney, Richard Wylie of Minneapolis, are appealing the evaluation, reprimand and performance improvement plan placed against him by City Administrator Andrew Langholz.
“I don’t know exactly why the city administrator came down on him (Skillestad),” Wylie told the Times. “There seemed to be some animosity of Skillestad.”
The reprimand, according to Wylie, charges Skillestad with failing to communicate directly with Steele County Sheriff Lon Thiele over police coverage for the city during a weekend when the city was short on manpower. Langholz directed the chief to talk to the sheriff directly, which Skillestad apparently failed to do.
Wylie claims the city reprimanded Skillestad for “insubordination” to Langholz.
The Times had requested the basis for the discipline from the city several times in recent weeks, but city leaders failed to comply with a state law requiring them to release information. The most recent developments have only come to light through Skillestad’s attorney.