St. Anthony Police Chief Jon Mangseth was interviewed by The Associated Press and had this to say about Jeronimo Yanez, the police officer who murdered 32-year-old Philando Castile during a traffic stop in front of Castile’s girlfriend and four-year-old child.
Mangseth also wouldn’t say whether he thinks his officer should be charged or exonerated in the case. But he said the 28-year-old Yanez, who is Latino, has had a sterling reputation in St Anthony’s police ranks since joining the force in late 2011. The chief described Yanez as energetic and intelligent, a skilled officer whom he chose to join the department’s special crime prevention program.
“He has a real sound ability when it comes to communicating and relating to people,” Mangseth said. “He showed me that he could shine in that public eye.”
This statement shows at the very least, a detachment from reality that should be grounds for his release from his duties as the police chief of this police department. Forget about the fact that he’s running a racist law enforcement outfit that terrorizes black citizens.
Though the population of the three communities policed by St Anthony is roughly 6.5% African American, the data shows over 12% of citations issued by officers since 2011 have been to black individuals.
Mansgeth should be fired. He’s incompetent and clearly has lost touch with what is happening around him.