Cops walk out after Lynx wear 'Black Lives Matter' shirts

Four off-duty Minneapolis police officers working the WNBA Minnesota Lynx game at Target Center on Saturday night walked off the job after the players held a news conference denouncing racial profiling, then wore Black Lives Matter pregame warmup jerseys.

Lt. Bob Kroll, president of the Minneapolis Police Federation, said, "I commend them for it."

Kroll said the four officers removed themselves from a list of officers working future games and indicated others may follow suit.

Asked about a claim that up to eight officers had walked off the job, Kroll said, "They only have four officers working the event because the Lynx have such a pathetic draw."

Lynx players wore black T-shirts that read "Change starts with us, justice and accountability" and on the back had Philando Castile's and Alton Sterling's names along with "Black Lives Matter."

Players also denounced the "senseless ambush" of Dallas police in the pregame press conference.

Police sign up for off-duty jobs to work at such events.

"They can start or stop a job whenever they want," Kroll said. "They are working on an independent contract."

Kroll said the Target Center arena where the Lynx play still has its own private security.