A member of the Minnesota Department of Corrections lost his job after he clashed with protesters demanding justice for Daunte Wright. As reported by NBC affiliate KARE 11, Sgt. Paul Gorder was fired following an investigation into his encounter with the group of demonstrators.
Back in April, activists gathered outside the home of Pete Orput, a Washington County attorney who was handling the case of Kim Potter, the officer charged with second-degree manslaughter in Wright’s fatal shooting. As they demanded murder charges against her and expressed their desires to see Orput removed from the case, Gorder, the attorney’s neighbor, confronted the demonstrators alongside his wife and was captured on camera.
In footage of the encounter, the married couple was heard shouting profanities and racial slurs, specifically the n-word, against the group of protesters. Gorder was also seen pointing his middle finger at the Wright supporters.
The video made its way around the internet and garnered tons of complaints, prompting an ensuing investigation into Gorder’s actions. He was placed on administrative leave pending the results of the probe. On Wednesday (May 12), the DOC announced the investigation was complete then followed up with the news of the officer’s termination. The findings and disciplinary action taken toward Gorder will not be disclosed until the end of the arbitration.
“The Department of Corrections is an agency with more than 4,300 employees whose skills and commitment make Minnesota safer, and I am very proud of the work being done by our staff,” said DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell following Gorder’s firing. “That said, when concerns about the conduct of an agency staff member arise, I am compelled to act in a manner that ensures public trust while ensuring that the employee is afforded all the rights and protections guaranteed by law and their union’s collective bargaining agreement.”
As REVOLT previously reported, Wright was pulled over because of an expired license plate and the air fresheners in his rearview mirror. When officers tried to arrest him on outstanding warrants, he attempted to get back into his car and was fatally shot by Potter, who believed she’d pulled out her Taser.