MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis police officer cleared of wrongdoing after a high profile fatal shooting has been fired.
Officer Jason Andersen tells KARE 11 he was dismissed, but claims he doesn't know why. Yesterday, two internal affairs investigators came out to his house and handed him a piece of paper that essentially said he was terminated for violating the MPD code of ethics but he says they couldn't explain to him what the violation was.
"I feel betrayed, let down, and after all that I have done for the city of Minneapolis I feel this is unfair," Andersen said. "It's not right and I deserve a chance like every other police officer has had."
The dismissal comes in the wake of a disciplinary panel hearing on September 11th. The panel took Andersen's case under advisement, and apparently decided termination was the right avenue for Andersen.
The 32-year-old Andersen was the target of a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Fong Lee. Andersen fatally shot the 19-year-old during a foot chase in 2006, firing his weapon 8 times. A federal grand jury determined last spring that Andersen's actions were lawful. Lee's family has filed a federal appeal.
In June Andersen was suspended with pay in after a misdemeanor domestic assault charge was filed in Sherburne County. That charge was later dropped.