Liz Sawyer
Reporter
Breaking news, crime and correctionsSawyer graduated from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in newspaper and online journalism. She worships her alma mater's college hoops team and thinks an orange is, in fact, a suitable mascot.
Latest from Liz Sawyer
Minneapolis
After bloody stretch, Whittier neighborhood leads Minneapolis in gun violence
The diverse community feels neglected amid a surge of shootings and robberies that has disproportionately affected immigrant residents.
September 28, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis police swear in first Somali woman, noncitizen in joyful graduation
Officers Ikran Mohamed, 23, and Lesly Vera, 27, make history among latest wave of diverse recruits seeking to replenish depleted police force.
September 27, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis council approves limited expansion of gunshot detection system
In a 13-0 vote, the City Council signed off on a two-year contract renewal with ShotSpotter that spreads acoustic sensors into parts of Loring Park and Whittier.
September 20, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis police sergeant accused of stalking and harassing co-worker
Sgt. Gordon Blackey, once a security guard to Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, allegedly admitted to tracking the woman’s movements in her vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.
September 19, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis police chief fired officer who left his post to seek sex act during overnight shift
The six-year veteran admitted to exchanging erotic texts and arranging multiple hookups in 2022 with a woman outside of his patrol area, while on duty and in uniform.
September 17, 2024
Minneapolis
Consent decree monitor publishes road map for Minneapolis police reforms
City, MDHR have asked the court to push back initial deadlines because of delay in selecting Effective Law Enforcement for All, the nonprofit overseeing court-mandated reform efforts. That request is still pending.
September 13, 2024
Elections
Fact check: Did Tim Walz ‘let rioters burn down Minneapolis’?
The Trump campaign is hammering this line of attack in new ads. Through videos, interviews and other public documents, the Star Tribune pieced together a timeline of the governor’s response to the riots.
September 11, 2024
Twin Cities
Minneapolis City Council considers smaller expansion of ShotSpotter gunshot detection system
A council committee agreed to sign off on a 2-year contract renewal that expands the acoustic gunshot detection system by 0.6 miles, into parts of Loring Park and Whittier.
September 9, 2024
Minneapolis
Minneapolis police chief fired officer who left his post to seek sex act during overnight shift
The six-year veteran admitted to exchanging erotic texts and arranging multiple hookups in 2022 with a woman outside of his patrol area, while on duty and in uniform.
September 17, 2024
Minneapolis
Consent decree monitor publishes road map for Minneapolis police reforms
City, MDHR have asked the court to push back initial deadlines because of delay in selecting Effective Law Enforcement for All, the nonprofit overseeing court-mandated reform efforts. That request is still pending.
September 13, 2024
Elections
Fact check: Did Tim Walz ‘let rioters burn down Minneapolis’?
The Trump campaign is hammering this line of attack in new ads. Through videos, interviews and other public documents, the Star Tribune pieced together a timeline of the governor’s response to the riots.
September 11, 2024
Twin Cities
Minneapolis City Council considers smaller expansion of ShotSpotter gunshot detection system
A council committee agreed to sign off on a 2-year contract renewal that expands the acoustic gunshot detection system by 0.6 miles, into parts of Loring Park and Whittier.
September 9, 2024