safety
Minneapolis officer fired for liking post that called for lynching of Black suspect
By Star Tribune
· July 3, 2026
· 1 min read
Officer Joseph Klimmek previously received social media training following inflammatory Facebook comments about violent crime. The Minneapolis police union is contesting his dismissal.
Key takeaway The Minneapolis police union is contesting his dismissal.
Why this matters in The Minneapolis
The firing of Officer Joseph Klimmek raises questions about the Minneapolis police department's social media policies and their effectiveness in preventing officers from engaging in inflammatory online behavior. Given that Klimmek had previously received training after making problematic comments, his subsequent liking of a post that called for the lynching of a Black suspect suggests a need for more stringent measures to address bias and ensure accountability. The police union's decision to contest his dismissal will likely be closely watched by community leaders and residents, who have long called for greater transparency and reform within the department. As the case moves forward, it will be important to see how the city's police leadership responds to concerns about officer conduct and whether they will take additional steps to rebuild trust with the community. The outcome of this case may also have implications for how the department approaches social media training and discipline in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by Star Tribune . The Minneapolis surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: safety ·
Published: July 3, 2026 ·
Source: Star Tribune ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Officer Joseph Klimmek previously received social media training following inflammatory Facebook comments about violent crime. The Minneapolis police union is contesting his dismissal.
When was this published? This article was first published on July 3, 2026 by Star Tribune and curated for The Minneapolis readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Star Tribune. To learn more about how The Minneapolis selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Minneapolis, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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