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Over the last 48 hours I have been working around the clock to get more information to the public regarding the death of our neighbor Justine. I have heard and I so deeply share your frustrations. I have heard your pleas for more information. I share these sentiments and am doing everything I can to make this happen.
I will warn you that what the City can share at this point will be underwhelming. Due to the investigation by the BCA there are only limited documents that the City has ownership of and can release. But I promise you that we will release everything in our ability and I have been pushing to do so. To that end, we will be posting all of these documents on the City’s website tomorrow. This information was provided to Justine's family late this evening in advance of the public release. (All current and future documents related to this case will be housed at www.minneapolismn.gov/police/records/frequent.)
Additionally, over these past two days I have been talking with neighbors, Justine’s family, her friends, and members of her faith community. I have heard over and over again how she was a beloved member of our community and will be missed. This great loss is felt by many. I have also been speaking with outside public officials and City departments to move things along in any every way that I can.
I have spoke with Don, Justine’s fiance, to express my deep sorrow for his loss and to hear what he needs from the City and our community. I have been sharing these requests with appropriate agencies as I am able. With the help of Don and the Lake Harriet Spiritual Community I have also helped to facilitate the transfer of the community-led memorial from the place she died to a place that she lived and brought joy to so many. It is my hope that the community will be able to honor Justine there and they have been invited by the Lake Harriet Spiritual Community to do so.
I am also in ongoing contact with the neighbors on the affected block on Washburn Avenue South. The initial incident and ongoing attention paid to their neighborhood has both short-term and long-term impacts on their lives and my heart goes out to them. They will need our support as they start to heal from this trauma.
Finally, my office has already begun to look at the policy improvements we need to make in response to this tragedy. This includes proposing updates to the MPD on new body camera policies, working with the Police Conduct Oversight Commission (PCOC) on a review of body camera compliance, and using my authority as chair of the Audit Committee to task our Audit Department with evaluating how body cameras are being used. We are also having lots of discussions about how we can start to make some bigger systemic changes to how we police in this city.
I know many of you are feeling unsettled and unsure right now given the events of recent days. I completely understand that and I know it will take us all some time to deal with this tragedy. My hope is that we can work together to take on these tough challenges and have these hard conversations and do the work of beginning to make these important changes as a city.
Yours in service,
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