Cloquet Police officer reinstated

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A Cloquet Police officer who was fired in April got his job back Thursday.

Patrol Officer Jeff Palmer was terminated on April 21 by the Cloquet City Council, who voted on it in a closed meeting. The vote was unanimous with Councilors Erik Blesener and Barb Wyman, who are also city employees, abstaining from the vote, according to Brian Fritsinger, city administrator.

At that time, the Data Privacy Act prohibited city officials from releasing any specific information about the nature of the complaint.

Palmer grieved the decision through his union and an arbitrator reversed the firing, reinstating Palmer with back pay and benefit reimbursement, Fritsinger said Thursday. Palmer can return to his job immediately.

Palmer joined the department in June 2001 and had been a detective for several years until April 2008, when he reportedly elected to return to a patrol officer position.

Palmer’s firing was the first under Cloquet Police Chief Wade Lamirande, who became chief in 2002.

Check back for updates to this developing story.

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