Crookston officer involved in two recent fatal shootings was disciplined for insubordination in December
Jul. 28—POLK COUNTY, Minn. — The Crookston police officer
recently identified as the shooter in two back-to-back civilian deaths
was reprimanded last winter for four policy violations, including insubordination, according to his personnel file.
Ofc. Nicholas Gunner Fladland shot and killed Andrew Dale on May 16 and, the following month, on June 30, fatally shot Christopher Junkin.
Dale, 35, reportedly told officers to shoot him and ran at them with a hatchet,
according to body camera footage reported on by WDAY.
Junkin, 44, was reportedly breaking items at the local homeless shelter and was shot after tasers and a chemical irritant failed to subdue him, according to a press release the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued earlier this month.
The Grand Forks Herald filed an open records request for Fladland's disciplinary file on July 12, and received it 10 days later.
Fladland was a correctional officer for four-and-a-half years before becoming a police officer in 2019, according to his personnel file.
He joined the Crookston Police Department in February 2023.
Nine months later, he was reprimanded for insubordination, engaging in personal activity, neglecting duties and not being properly equipped while on shift, his file said.
A reprimand report was included in the personnel file released to the Herald, however, the written reprimand itself was not. The Herald inquired after that document and received it Friday, July 26.
The written reprimand, which Chief Darin Selzler sent Fladland on Dec. 6, says Fladland worked out during his shift on several occasions — despite the fact that he asked whether it was allowed and was informed it was not.
On a regular basis, at least throughout the month of November, Fladland was changing out of his patrol uniform and into civilian clothes approximately 15 to 20 minutes prior to his shift ending, according to the reprimand.
In response to these violations, Fladland was placed on a performance improvement plan. The letter says that, with his consent, Fladland's probationary employment would be extended for six months.
He was warned any same or similar behaviors might result in more severe disciplinary action.
The file showed no current complaints or charges against Fladland, and says he satisfied the components of his improvement plan.
He was placed on critical incident leave following the June shooting, according to the BCA press release.
