FARGO (KFGO-AM) - Fargo Police Chief Keith Ternes said claims he was partly to blame for the death of a police officer are not accurate.
Sherrie Skuza says Ternes' management style and his handling of discliplinary cases was a factor that led to her husband's suicide.
Department veteran Lt. Jeff Skuza committed suicide in March after learning the three deputy police chief's recommended Ternes fire him for covering up the accidental discharge of his taser.
Skuza says her husband pulled the trigger but Ternes gave him the bullets and released the safety.
Ternes said he did not prevent Lt. Skuza from resigning although Skuza suggested it before the investigation was completed.
Ternes said he's trying not to take the comments personally. He said, " I understand this is part of the families grieving process...and my hope is that at some point, whatever pain they're still going through, they will be able to find some comfort in closure."