The mayor of Idaho’s largest city has launched an investigation to determine if a police officer, whose ties to a white supremacist group became known after he retired, violated the rights of any residents during his 22 years with the agency. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean launched the probe on Monday after The Idaho Statesman reported that former police Capt. Matthew Bryngelson appeared under a fake name on the speaker list for the American Renaissance Conference. The Southern Poverty Law Center says the conference draws Klansmen, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists. McLean said the investigation will also look into whether Bryngelson or others used agency resources to “advance racist ideology.” McLean announced the investigation on Monday when she addressed leaders and city officials during a bargaining meeting between the city and the Boise Police Department’s union. She said she expects the cooperation of the police and the union. “For those in the Boise Police Department, if you cannot or will not cooperate fully and honestly, I suggest that now is the time to leave,” she said. “And honestly it’s the time to leave the profession because the people of Boise rely on you to protect and to serve them.” The newspaper also reported that Bryngelson appeared to have written blog posts, under a pseudonym, about the time in his police career when he “became aware of the violent tendencies of Blacks.” Bryngelson did not return phone or text messages from the newspaper. The Boise Police Department on Monday released a statement promising to fully cooperate with the independent investigation.
via eastidahonews: Idaho mayor launches investigation into police officer’s ties with white supremacist group