Attending the hearing was Minneapolis Police Chief John Laux. KARE-TV declined to attend, or to respond in writing. This hearing was televised on Minneapolis Telecommunications Network. Chairman John Simonett did not attend or participate in the hearing because two complaints relating to the homicide case could lead to appeals before the Minnesota Supreme Court, of which he is a member. Vice Chairman Ron Graham chaired the hearing.

Chief Laux brought three complaints before the Council:

1. KARE-TV did not observe acceptable journalistic standards when it transported a murder suspect from Chicago to Minneapolis without informing the police in either city, the pilot of the plane, or the driver of the hired van.
2. KARE-TV did not observe acceptable journalistic standards, nor did it show appropriate regard for the safety of a witness under police protection, when it located and attempted to contact a witness.
3. KARE-TV contributed to a “circus” atmosphere in a different case when it arrived at the scene of a suspect’s surrender at police headquarters with the suspect’s girlfriend, who was then under police surveillance.

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