The officer who killed Daunte Wright takes her story to the streets with the help of a former prosecutor

MINNEAPOLIS – A former Minnesota police officer convicted of killing a black female driver because she used her handgun instead of her Taser during a traffic stop is out of prison and speaking at police conferences, sparking a heated debate about how officers can be held accountable for misconduct should be punished to atone for their misdeeds.

After Kim Potter served her sentence for the murder of Daunte Wright, she met with the prosecutor prosecuting her case. Former prosecutor Imran Ali said Potter wanted to do something to help other officers avoid taking their own lives. Ali viewed the presentation as a path to redress for errant police officers and an opportunity to promote healing in communities already reeling from police misconduct.

But Katie Wright, Daunte's mother, said the plan amounted to an angry scheme in which her son's killer would profit from his death and stir up painful memories in the process.

“I think Kim Potter had her second chance. She was allowed to go home with her children. This was her second chance,” Wright said. “I think when we see police officers making mistakes in quotes, they can still live in our community. They can still move on with their lives. This is her second chance. We don’t have a second chance to get our loved ones back.”

Potter, who did not respond to phone and email messages, was scheduled to give her talk to a law enforcement agency in Washington state when it was abruptly canceled in September after news reports sparked criticism. But other law enforcement agencies, including one of the largest in Minnesota, hosted the presentation and continue to invite Potter to speak.

Some consider the cancellation of her talk short-sighted, saying she could share a cautionary tale with others who must make life-and-death decisions on the ground.

“That is the definition of why I decided to walk away. You have someone who sees the need for reform, sees the need for redemption, sees the need to engage. And yet,” Ali said. “If you are in law enforcement in this country, there is no redemption.”

Ali initially served as co-counsel in the case against Potter. However, he resigned, saying “viciousness” and “partisan politics” made it difficult to achieve justice. Now a law enforcement consultant, Ali said he is working to help departments implement changes that could prevent more officers from making Potter's mistakes.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose office took over the prosecution of Potter after Ali's resignation, said the former official's public expression of remorse could help the community heal.

Wright was killed on April 11, 2021, in Brooklyn Center, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from where the officer who killed George Floyd was on trial. Wright's killing sparked protests as communities in Minneapolis and beyond continued to suffer from Floyd's killing. A jury later found Potter guilty of manslaughter. A judge said Potter never intended to hurt Wright and sentenced her to two years in prison. She was released after 16 months and was later linked to Ali.

“I thought, wow. Even after the conviction, the eviction from your home, the many death threats against you and the imprisonment, you just don't want to leave,” said Ali.

The couple has become a fixture at Minnesota Sheriff's Association events. They conducted training at conferences in June and September, with future training planned for October. They also held their presentation out of state in May, when Potter spoke at a law enforcement conference in Indiana, event schedules show.

Jeff Storms, Wright's attorney, said the description of the Washington training in the contract drawn up by Ali's law firm read more like an advertisement for distressed police officers than a heartfelt story of Potter's regret.

“The officer and prosecutor who resigned in protest will give a dynamic presentation on the truth about what happened, the increasing violence and noncompliance with law enforcement, the importance of training and the steps we can take moving forward.” says the contract for the training, obtained by The Associated Press.

This passage suggests that Ali was providing technical support to Potter and his law firm, Storms said.

“They benefit from law enforcement training. “And when you say that it's just some kind of reparation for Ms. Potter to go through this training, it sounds really hard to believe that that's the case,” Storms said.

According to the contract, Ali's company proposed a fee of $8,000 for the training session, which included speaking fees and travel expenses.

“To say that my company is trying to profit from an $8,000 contract is ridiculous,” Ali said.

He did not say how much money Potter would make, but said the amount would be far less than what she could earn by telling her story through a book deal or another project. Ali declined to show the AP the full presentation he and Potter were scheduled to make in Washington. But he described Potter's opening line, which would be: “I killed Daunte Wright. I'm not proud of it. And you shouldn’t be either.”

Ali said he is committed to helping law enforcement implement changes that would prevent more officers from making Potter's mistakes. The backlash to Potter telling her story at the training reflects the view among some that redress for those convicted of crimes does not extend to police officers, Ali said.

“We can give the benefit of the doubt to people who are former Ku Klux Klan members or former skinheads who educate us, sometimes even our youth,” Ali said. “But we can’t give law enforcement that chance.”

Rachel Moran, a professor of police accountability at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, said the perspectives of victims and their families should be considered by law enforcement when deciding who to include in training. But Potter's voice may be able to penetrate a law enforcement culture wary of outside criticism, she said

“Police officers culturally have a tendency not to want to listen to outsiders and not to believe that other people can understand the situation,” she added. “So to hear from someone who is completely in their shoes and is actually willing to admit a mistake. “I think that has the potential to be heard by officials rather than outsiders.”

In an interview, James Stuart, executive director of the Minnesota Sheriff's Association, said Potter's upcoming presentation will go ahead despite the setback. His organization has a responsibility to learn from the “national moment of upheaval” sparked by Potter’s murder of Wright.

“She will be the first to say that she is not a hero and that it was a terrible, tragic accident,” Stuart said. “I understand the concerns and criticism, but I also hope they understand the importance of learning from mistakes and ensuring that no other families find themselves in the same situation.”