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Tim Nelson
St. Paul

St. Paul cop who kicked man in K-9 incident is off the force

Screen grab from dash cam video
Officer Brett Palkowitsch, seen in dashboard camera video kicking a man in the ribs as he lay on the ground during controversial arrest, no longer works for St. Paul police, the department said Monday.
St. Paul Police

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A St. Paul police officer seen in dashboard camera video kicking a man during controversial arrest in June, is no longer on the force, the department said Monday.

That's a change from Friday, when police described Brett Palkowitsch as being on unpaid leave as they released video of him kicking Frank Baker, an African-American man who lay on the ground as a police dog bit him.

The incident led St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell to apologize to Baker, 53, and discipline Palkowitsch and Brian Ficcadenti, the officer who released the K-9 that bit Baker.

Frank Baker, who was attacked by K-9 and kicked by police.
Frank Baker spent weeks in the hospital after suffering what a police report called "severe lacerations," to his legs and feet after being bitten by a police dog and kicked by police officers.
Courtesy Andrew Noel

On Monday, department spokesperson Mike Ernster said the Palkowitsch's status has not changed, but that the description of his employment last week did not accurately reflect the situation. Palkowitsch is no longer with the department but state law prohibits disclosing whether the departure was voluntary or if Palkowitsch was fired, Ernster added.

Ficcadenti was initially going to be fired, according to a settlement agreement he reached with the department. He's instead serving a 30-day unpaid suspension.

The video has language that may offend some, and it may be difficult to view.