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State trooper's citation against supervisors has been dismissedBy Joel Stottrup It was a case of one Minnesota state trooper alleging through the issuing of a citation that his two superior officers had done something illegal regarding a performance evaluation. But St. Cloud City Attorney Jan Petersen, after reviewing the information in the allegations, has dismissed the complaint. The officer who made the accusations is Princeton native Pete Teigen. The superiors Teigen cited are Lt. Tom Nelson and Captain Al Kutz. Nelson is also from Princeton. Teigen, 47, a nearly 25-year State Patrol trooper, recently wrote out citations on the two supervisors, alleging they had violated a state law on the prohibition of traffic citation quotas. Section 299D.08, adopted in 1990, states: "The State Patrol shall not order, mandate, require, or suggest to a patrol trooper that the patrol trooper issue a certain number of traffic citations on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly quota basis." Teigen issued the citations after being called into the State Patrol district headquarters on Dec. 3 for his annual performance evaluation. Teigen received a satisfactory rating in all categories except "enforcement evaluation." On that one he received a "needs improvement." Teigen told St. Cloud City Attorney Petersen that the number of traffic warnings he had given were higher than the previous year but that the traffic citations were down. Teigen told the Union-Eagle last week that it appeared to him from the rating on his enforcement that there was a violation of the citation-quota statute. City Attorney Petersen, in a Dec. 12 letter to Teigen, Nelson and Kutz, said that Teigen had told him he felt his two superiors "were strongly suggesting that he raise the number of traffic citations in order to receive a proficient rating in enforcement." Petersen noted that he received communications from other state troopers and State Patrol administrators on the issue and found them "helpful and candid," and that the individuals all had "strongly-held feelings." "The troopers wanted me to know that others shared the opinion held by Trooper Teigen," Petersen wrote. "Administrators wanted me to know that they believe they are fully complying with the quota law and are working hard to fairly evaluate the performance of our state troopers." Petersen concluded that Teigen's citations should be dismissed. He explained his reasons for dismissal by citing statute provision and said, "I believe Trooper Teigen was wrong." Petersen said troopers have the option of using their union and its contractual grievance procedure and suggested that as the route for Teigen. Petersen also said the state would not be able to meet the burden of proof for prosecution of the individual patrol supervisors, and defined burden of proof as being beyond a reasonable doubt. When the Union-Eagle interviewed Teigen last week about his stance, he brought up how it was only he and one other state trooper who had to handle the patrol last winter in his territory because of two fellow officers becoming injured and another being assigned to background investigations. Teigen reasoned that he therefore had to take on a lot of other calls that didn't have to do with traffic infractions. Nelson: No quota was set for Teigen Lt. Nelson, 39, who has been with the State Patrol for 16 years, said he agrees with Teigen that the St. Cloud station could use more help. "I did not tell him how many citations to write," Nelson continued, referring to Teigen. "I know the quota bill." Nelson added that the amount of citations an officer makes for traffic violations are "not just numbers" but "translate to safer highways." Nelson also said he is "not out to hassle anybody." When it was noted that the subject had become the focus of a TV report by a Twin Cities station, Nelson agreed it was a "hot topic." He also admitted there has been some criticism of the State Patrol's performance evaluation system. But Nelson said he has been receiving support from current State Patrol troopers and "brass," some working now and some in the past. "It's unfortunate it came to this," he said of the controversy. Nelson was asked about Teigen mentioning that a needs improvement on the trooper's evaluation can hold that trooper back from advancement or from getting another patrol assignment they want. Nelson answered that it is true but is only for a year and thus not permanent. "It's not a pleasant situation," said Nelson, but added that one plus in the situation is that he and Teigen have the same hometown, making for a "common bond." Teigen also commented following the St. Cloud City Attorney's dismissal of Teigen's citations. "I stand by it," Teigen said. "I still feel what I did was right. I feel the reasons for the dismissal were political. I would rather see it go to court and be decided on the merits of the case. I think this issue will become pretty big." Princeton Union-Eagle |