confusion

Thursday, September 5, 1996
PAGE: 01D
By Daniel Bernard/News-Tribune staff writer

CONFUSION CLOUDS CAMPAIGN CLAIMS

   Voters who value a police officer's opinion face a dilemma in the primary election in Minnesota Senate District 8.
   The challenger, Becky Lourey, says she has been endorsed by police throughout Minnesota. But so does the incumbent, Sen. Florian Chmielewski.
   The confusion stems from a leaflet distributed by Chmielewski supporters that makes it appear as if the Sturgeon Lake DFLer has been endorsed for re-election by statewide police organizations.
   In fact, Chmielewski has been endorsed by the union representing 850 Minneapolis police officers. And Lourey, DFL state representative from Kerrick, was endorsed this summer by the Minnesota Peace and Police Officers Association, the lobbying group that represents 6,600 local, county and state police around Minnesota.
   The leaflet mentions the Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association, although that group doesn't issue political endorsements. And it said Chmielewski's re-election is being supported by the Minnesota Police Pension Council, which was disbanded three years ago.
   Some law enforcement officials called the pro-Chmielewski leaflet misleading.
   ''I think he is trying to place that endorsement (by the Minneapolis union) on the same level of the endorsement that Becky Lourey has received. And the two are not comparable,'' said Dennis Flaherty, executive director for the Police and Peace Officers Association.
   Chmielewski said the Minneapolis Police Officers Federation composed and printed the leaflet and distributed it around Cloquet last week without consulting him. Chmielewski's campaign committee then reprinted the leaflet, titled ''Minnesota Police Report'' in a publication that circulates in Carlton and Pine counties.
   Chmielewski said rank-and-file police officers support him because he's tougher on crime.
   ''I had no knowledge that this piece was coming out. But I'm not ashamed of it,'' Chmielewski said. ''I'm proud to be supported by police officers.''
   Lourey was to discuss the leaflet at a press conference today.
   The leaflet says Chmielewski's re-election is supported by the Minnesota Police Pension Council, but that group's existence is in doubt. Members voted to disband about three years ago, said Chuck Anderson, the council's former secretary-treasurer, who is now assistant to the state Commissioner of Public Safety.
   A former member of the council's board of directors, retired Minneapolis police officer Dick Nelson, said the council is still active. Nelson said Chmielewski got the council's endorsement when Nelson polled five board members by phone about six weeks ago.
   Anderson said he doubted that, saying, ''If he (Nelson) is acting for the Police Pension Council, he's doing it on his own, because we do not exist.''
   The leaflet notes that Chmielewski received an award from the Minnesota State Patrol Troopers Association. It fails to mention that the award was given in April 1995.
   The ''Dedicated Service Award'' was a thank-you to Chmielewski for co-authoring legislation that funded new state patrol squad cars with a surcharge on car transfers.
   The leaflet includes a praising quote from Dennis Olson of Moose Lake and identifies him as the president of the troopers association. Olson, who left the post in January, said he was concerned the leaflet implies he is endorsing Chmielewski on behalf of the association.
   Chmielewski said he believes the leaflet contains no distortions.
   ''They're splitting hairs here,'' Chmielewski said. ''There's a small group of people who try to make it look as if every police officer (supports Lourey). Let them fight amongst themselves.''