Minneapolis cop accused of slur against Ellison

(AP) - A Minneapolis police lieutenant faced an internal investigation after fellow officers reported he had made remarks implying U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison is a terrorist.

Lt. Bob Kroll denies calling Ellison a terrorist or even mentioning him by name during a required police ethics class where his colleagues say the remarks were made.

Chief Tim Dolan issued a public apology to Ellison, a Democrat from Minneapolis and the first Muslim elected to Congress. And in an e-mail to employees, he called Kroll's comments unacceptable.

"If these statements were made in the way they were relayed to me, I am disappointed and concerned," Dolan said in an e-mail to department employees obtained by The Associated Press. The e-mail didn't detail the alleged remarks.

Mayor R.T. Rybak also condemned the reported remarks.

Kroll, an 18-year veteran, didn't immediately respond to a message left at his office by The Associated Press on Friday, and he had no published home listing. He told the Star Tribune, which first reported the story, that Dolan had been given bad information.

"When the investigation is over, I'll be cleared of any wrongdoing," he said.

Ellison said he was grateful to Rybak and Dolan for "setting the right tone."

"The alleged comments don't reflect the diversity of our city, or the warm embracing attitudes of those who live in the Fifth District," he said. "The alleged comments don't reflect the Minneapolis Police Department, who I respect as well."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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