The families of five Minnesota men who were killed by police officers have filed a lawsuit to compel the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to release its investigative files on their deaths. The families argue that the BCA has failed to comply with Minnesota’s open records law. The lawsuit, filed in Ramsey County District Court, claims that once an investigation into a deadly force incident is complete and prosecutors decide not to charge the officers involved, the data should be turned over to the families within 10 days of their request. However, the BCA has not met this legal obligation, according to the lawsuit.
Prosecutors cleared the officers of any wrongdoing in all five cases. Despite this, the families argue that obtaining the files would provide them with closure and allow them to file wrongful death lawsuits within the state’s three-year statute of limitations. Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, emphasized the importance of timely access to the files, stating that the long delays hinder families’ ability to seek justice.
One of the plaintiffs is the family of Tekele Sundberg, who was killed by Minneapolis police snipers during a mental health crisis in July 2022. Sundberg’s mother, Cindy Sundberg, expressed frustration over the lack of information and the impact it has had on their grieving process. Another family involved in the lawsuit is that of Zachary Shogren, an Army veteran suffering from PTSD and schizophrenia, who was shot and killed by task force officers in Duluth. Shogren’s parents claim that the police were aware of their son’s mental health issues and failed to provide him with the help he needed.
The BCA stated its commitment to informing families and the public as quickly as possible while complying with state law. Jill Oliveira, a BCA spokesperson, explained that once a case is closed, the agency must review all reports, images, audio, and video in the case file to ensure that any non-public information is removed. This process includes reviewing dash camera footage, body-worn camera footage, surveillance video, and extensive reports.
In addition to Sundberg and Shogren’s families, the lawsuit also includes the families of Dolal Idd, who was killed by Minneapolis police in 2020, Okwan Sims, who was shot by Stillwater police officers in 2023, and Brent Alsleben, who was killed by Hutchinson police officers in 2022.
The statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit for Dolal Idd’s family expires next month, adding urgency to their request for the release of investigative files. The families and their lawyers argue that they need time to review the extensive case files, which can range from 1,500 to 2,500 pages, before the deadline.
The lawsuit highlights the families’ right to access government data under Minnesota’s open records law and their demand for transparency from law enforcement agencies.
