Minneapolis Council Weighs Peterson for Police Chief

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has nominated longtime department veteran and interim chief Bill Peterson to lead the police department permanently, with the City Council set to vote Thursday. Peterson says he wants to address staffing shortages, overtime costs, internal-investigation backlogs and court-mandated reforms, but some council members and police-accountability advocates oppose his appointment, arguing the department needs an outside leader and questioning his understanding of discriminatory policing. In South Korea, lawmakers plan to hold a confirmation hearing next Wednesday for Kim Jong-cheol, nominee to lead the Korean National Police Agency, a post that has been vacant for nearly two years. The Democratic Party of Korea also plans hearings for nominees to lead the Justice Ministry and National Tax Service, while seeking a parliamentary session to advance other bills.