John Klug

Minot Police Chief John Klug is out. The Minot City Council voted Monday to seek an interim chief from outside the department to serve for up to a year while the city conducts a nationwide search for a permanent replacement.

City Manager Harold Stewart said city management and Klug have mutually agreed that he should not return to the chief’s position after having been on paid administrative leave since last September. Klug has been with the Minot Police Department for nearly 30 years and has been chief since Feb. 1, 2020.

“Independent counsel investigated allegations of a hostile work environment at the Minot Police Department, staff confidence in police leadership, staff retention, staff morale and inconsistent disciplinary decisions,” Stewart said. “The investigation has concluded. It’s time to take the necessary next steps. As city manager, it is my sole responsibility to make these recommendations. I do not reach conclusions lightly. I’ve considered all the facts, issues and concerns over the past few months, and I’ve listened to input from all sides.

“We appreciate his public service and his commitment to the department and his community,” Stewart said of Klug. “But my recommendations are not about one employee or about one person. Rather, they’re about what’s best for the entire Minot Police Department, the City of MInot as an organization and our community.

“Our residents must be able to have faith that our police department and its leaders are held to the highest standards of conduct and that they reflect the values of professionalism, responsibility, integrity, dedication and excellence that we are committed to as an organization,” he added.

Stewart also said the intent isn’t to find Klug’s replacement as quickly as possible.

“I want to make sure that we put the right person there, both in the interim and the long term,” Stewart said, noting there will be involvement from the community, police department and council in selecting a new permanent chief.

The council also adopted Stewart’s recommendation to delegate the temporary oversight of Central Dispatch to a management team led by Fire Chief Kelli Kronschnabel, Assistant City Manager Tom Joyce and a Minot Police Department representative. The team will review the findings and recommendations of the independent investigator and provide recommendations to the city manager on any needed changes or restructuring.

City attorney Stefanie Stalheim said Klug and his attorney will continue to negotiate a written agreement with city management regarding his transition. The agreement will come to the council later for its consideration.

The council voted 7-0 to adopt Stewart’s recommendations.