Detective's petition to continue work is denied
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A judge has ruled that seven detectives who investigate financial crime for the state commerce department are not essential workers.
Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin Friday denied the state police detectives' petition. She wrote that while law enforcement is a core government function, the court doesn't have the authority to determine how many and what types of officers should remain on the job.
Jonathan Ferris is one in a team of ten sworn officers who investigate high-profile white-collar crimes. Ferris and six other members of his team were laid off as a result of the budget stalemate at the Capitol.
Ferris made his case Thursday before Special Master Kathleen Blatz that he and the rest of his team should get back to work.
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Ferris argued that the investigators help protect public safety, a core function of government that has already been broadly ruled on by a Ramsey County judge. Other officers -- conservation officers, troopers and agents who enforce alcohol and gambling laws -- remain on duty through the shutdown.
Most law enforcement officers, from state troopers to local beat cops, continue to hang onto their jobs during the Minnesota shutdown. The department hasn't explained why some investigators are still working and others aren't.
Ferris said the government shutdown means bad news for investigations that are under way.
"An undercover investigation related to a healthcare fraud investigation has been stopped. The detective who was working in an undercover capacity is currently laid off."
Ferris emphasized that he was testifying as a union member of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Association and not on behalf of his department, where he's only been working for seven months.
