BP releases redacted chief’s eval

Blooming Prairie city officials have released documents requested by the Steele County Times in regards to discipline against the city’s police chief.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, City Attorney Jason Iacovino released a redacted document pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13.43. The document provided the final disposition of disciplinary action against Police Chief Greg Skillestad and the specific reasons for the action and data documenting the basis of the action.
The release appears to be a reversal in course of action previously outlined by the city. In a meeting with the Times on Oct. 1, Iacovino and City Administrator Andrew Langholz said they would not be releasing anything about Skillestad. After that meeting, the Times made another written request and asked for assistance from Mark Anfinson, an attorney representing the Times and an expert on First Amendment and data practices law in Minnesota.
The Times eventually received several documents, including the chief’s performance review, pertaining to the discipline from Skillestad’s attorney. Much of the content from those documents was printed in the Oct. 14 edition.
Last week, the city provided the performance review with a number of items blackened out. Most of the information redacted included other names of employees and citizens as well as medical information that would be considered private data. The Times had not published any of the redacted information.
“The city initially declined to release the evaluation until it had the opportunity to check into exactly what information could be released,” said Iacovino. “City officials made every effort to ensure it was not violating personnel data laws by releasing private data and this setting the city up for further liability.”
Blooming Prairie gave Skillestad 120 days to improve his performance, which it has called insubordinate, incompetent and not suitable to be chief. The improvement period was scheduled to end last Saturday. It’s unknown what the next step will be for the city.
Meanwhile, Skillestad is appealing his evaluation, discipline and improvement plan to the Minnesota Department of Administration.