Fired Bismarck Officer Appeals Termination Following Controversial Arrest
Former Bismarck police officer George Huff has filed an appeal with the Bismarck Civil Service Commission after being terminated from his position. Huff’s termination came after a controversial arrest, and his attorney is now requesting that a scheduled hearing be canceled.
Huff’s attorney, Christopher Redmann, explained that they decided to forego the civil service hearing due to pending prosecutorial review. Redmann believes that civil service commissions rarely reverse department head decisions. He also expressed concern that the video evidence does not fully capture the suspect’s offensive actions, rather focusing on Huff’s defensive actions. Redmann argued that the perception of the incident may be skewed as a result.
According to Redmann, Officer Huff was defending himself during the arrest. He claims that the suspect, Keith Erlandson, attempted to grab at Huff’s neck and his chest-mounted knife. Redmann emphasized that Erlandson has a history of assaulting police officers, resisting arrest, and mental health issues. He stated that Officer Huff had to make split-second, life-or-death decisions to protect himself and return safely to his family.
Additional information obtained from court documents reveals that Erlandson has been ordered to receive competency restoration treatment at the North Dakota State Hospital. The documents state that he will be transported to the hospital by family members once a bed becomes available. If Erlandson regains competency within 180 days, a hearing in his case will be scheduled.
Huff’s termination resulted from an internal affairs investigation by the Bismarck Police Department (BPD) and a Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) probe. The internal affairs investigation concluded that excessive force allegations were sustained and that Huff violated department policy in his interactions with Erlandson. The BPD use of force review board unanimously recommended Huff’s termination, leading to his employment being terminated on May 21.
This case has sparked a debate over the appropriate use of force by law enforcement officers, particularly in situations involving individuals with mental health issues. Proponents argue that officers should be allowed to defend themselves when faced with potential harm, while opponents believe that excessive force was used in this particular incident.
The upcoming hearing would have provided an opportunity to review the evidence and hear arguments from both sides. However, with the appeal now filed, the decision ultimately rests with the Bismarck Civil Service Commission.
It is essential to note that the opinions expressed in this article represent differing perspectives surrounding the incident and do not reflect the views of the news publisher.
