New book offers a fascinating insight into the inner workings—and, unfortunately, failings — of the Minneapolis Police Department in the years leading up to the high-profile deaths of Justine Damond and George Floyd
DOVER, Minn., July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The senseless deaths of Justine Damond and George Floyd, as well as his own personal abuse at the hands of people in power in the City of Minneapolis, the MPD, the US attorney's office, and the FBI, inspired Lt. Michael P. Keefe to write "Minneapolis Burning: Did FBI agents protect the Minneapolis PD for years despite multiple warnings?" (published by Archway Publishing). This book is based on a true story about two veteran Minneapolis police officers who had the courage and integrity to "break the code," as a Minneapolis assistant city attorney jokingly put it one day at the First Precinct in downtown Minneapolis.
In this book, Keefe, who was named Investigator of the Year by the Minneapolis Police Department in 2006 when he was a homicide detective, reveals how he and Sgt. Paul Burt blew the whistle on corruption inside the department. They were joined by a small number of other Minneapolis police officers and an FBI agent who put their careers on the line because they, too, refused to turn a blind eye to misdeeds.
Keefe also highlights two detailed complaints about departmental corruption. One that was filed in 2009 and the second in 2016, which was sent to the FBI via Sen. Charles Grassley's office. If either had been duly acted upon, the officer involved in the shooting of Justine Damond, and the in-custody death of George Floyd, would have likely never happened.
"When Sgt. Burt and I 'broke the code,' as so eloquently stated by Minneapolis assistant city attorney Tom Miller, we stepped out onto an island, and I was repeatedly assaulted by my peers who were in positions of power. I cannot speak for Sgt. Burt, but no law enforcement officer anywhere in the country should ever have to endure the abuse I went through simply for refusing to cover up evidence. I did not care whether the focus was cops or a career drug dealer; I was not about to cover up any evidence, and neither was Sgt. Burt," Keefe points out.
When asked what he wants readers to take away from the book, Keep answered, "Corruption is like a slow-moving cancer; initially it's difficult to identify, but eventually everything becomes very clear. But by the time it becomes clear, it is too late, and it destroys everything in its path. Corruption destroyed the city of Minneapolis in 2020, and the people responsible for it are either still employed or are enjoying healthy government pensions. The city of Minneapolis lacked many things—most importantly, accountability. In the end, it was nothing but chaos and mayhem. Large parts of the city burned, people died, and it all could have been avoided." For more details about the book, please visit https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/834258-minneapolis-burning
"Minneapolis Burning: Did FBI agents protect the Minneapolis PD for years despite multiple warnings?"
By Michael P. Keefe
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 190 pages | ISBN 9781665733557
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 190 pages | ISBN 9781665733564
E-Book | 190 pages | ISBN 9781665733571
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Michael P. Keefe, a U.S. Air Force veteran, was named Investigator of the Year by the Minneapolis Police Department in 2006 when he was a homicide detective. A year later, he was named commander of the Minneapolis Police Department/FBI Violent Offender Task Force.
Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit archwaypublishing.com or call 844-669-3957.
Media Contact
Marketing Services, ArchwayPublishing, 844-669-3957, pressreleases@archwaypublishing.com
SOURCE ArchwayPublishing
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