New head of Minneapolis police homicide unit was previously suspended for forwarding racist email

A Minneapolis police lieutenant placed on a yearlong paid leave for forwarding a racist email over a decade ago has been appointed as the new head of the department's homicide unit.

Lt. Aimee Linson, a 25-year veteran of the force, returned to duty and was issued a written reprimand in April following an investigation into whether she violated the agency's ethics and communications policy, which prohibits officers from intentionally "transmitting, accessing or storing" material that's offensive, like racial slurs.

Roughly six months after her reinstatement, department leadership selected Linson to replace Lt. Richard Zimmerman, the department's longtime head of homicide who was a key witness in the trial of ex-officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. The restructured unit will combine the Shooting Response Team, where Linson most recently served, and Homicide into one division.

https://www.startribune.com/new-head-of-minneapolis-police-homicide-unit-previously-suspended-for-forwarding-racist-email/600318321/