Michael Coffey, the Minnesota State Fair's assistant police chief, has filed a whistleblower lawsuit that pulls back the curtain on behind-the-scenes tension at one of the state's biggest events. In a complaint lodged Monday, Coffey accuses Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher and fair organizers of retaliating against him after he reported what he says was unlawful use of force during last year's fair.
Coffey's suit describes an incident on the evening of Sept. 1 in which three people were detained with no charges listed and arrest notes instructing officers to "hold until after the fair." According to the filing, video shows a young man pinned on the ground with multiple officers on top of him, and alleges that Sheriff Fletcher deployed a canister of chemical munitions toward the man's face, as reported by the Pioneer Press.
Sheriff Fletcher flatly rejects that description. "Coffey made several false accusations," he told the Pioneer Press, denying that he deployed chemical munitions as alleged in the complaint. A spokesperson for the State Fair also told the paper that the fair's actions were "entirely proper" and that it plans to defend itself in court.
Alleged Internal Reporting And Retaliation
The lawsuit says Coffey initially raised his concerns inside the chain of command. According to the complaint, he reported what he believed to be unlawful conduct to State Fair Police Chief Ron Knafla. The suit then traces a series of changes that Coffey says began in November, including curtailed duties and reduced hours at the fair.
The filing alleges that the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office demanded Coffey be fired or it would stop providing officers for State Fair duty. It also contends that Coffey's shifts were moved to daytime hours so that he had to leave the fairgrounds when Sheriff Fletcher arrived, which the complaint says cut into Coffey's overtime opportunities. The suit further states that an FBI agent contacted Coffey on Sept. 4 to discuss the incidents he reported.
What The Law Says
Coffey is framing his case as a whistleblower action under Minnesota law. The state's Whistleblower Act bars employers from disciplining or penalizing workers who, in good faith, report suspected violations of law. Employees who prove retaliation can seek remedies such as reinstatement, back pay and other relief, according to the Revisor's Office.
Coffey's complaint asks the court to decide whether he was punished for making a lawful report and, if so, to order appropriate relief under that statute.
Next Steps
The lawsuit sets up a high-profile legal fight over how force, oversight and crowd control are handled at the Minnesota State Fair. The event is operated by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, while county law enforcement is responsible for policing inside the fairgrounds.
For now, the fair says it will stand by its decisions, and Sheriff Fletcher has denied the central allegations. The case will move through Ramsey County court, where discovery and pretrial motions will shape how much of the disputed video and other evidence is ultimately presented to a judge or jury. In the meantime, the filing puts a spotlight on a year-old confrontation and raises broader questions about how agencies police large public gatherings and what happens to employees who say they see misconduct from the inside.
