People who have worked closely with the man tapped to lead Minneapolis' embattled police department say he has qualities that will fit well with the role: He's friendly, forthright, has deep city roots and is African-American, which could help improve sour relations between the police and the city's black community.
But Medaria Arradondo's rise from school resource officer and patrolman to assistant chief during 28 years on the force have some wondering whether an outsider would be better suited to changing the culture of a department accused of being too quick to use force.
Facing public anger over an officer's fatal shooting last weekend of an unarmed, white 40-year-old Australian woman Justine Damond who had called 911 to report a possible sexual assault near her home, Mayor Betsy Hodges asked police Chief Janee Harteau to resign, which she did on Friday. Hodges nominated Arradondo as Harteau's replacement and dismissed protesters' calls for her to resign, too.
The police department has stepped up training in recent years, focusing on community policing, Hodges said. She said Arradondo will work to cement those changes.
Arradondo, nicknamed "Rondo," needs city council's approval before he can begin the job. He served as the department's public face for most of a week after the July 15 police shooting of Justine Damond, until Harteau returned from holiday on Thursday.
