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Ward 4 Neighbors,
Yesterday, my colleagues and I voted to enter into a federal consent decree with the United States Department of Justice. The court-enforceable agreement outlines policy, resource, and training requirements that will continue to help guide the City’s and Minneapolis Police Department’s reform efforts moving forward. We knew this moment was coming, and it has been over 4 years in the making. In the past 4 years, many of the police reforms mentioned in the agreement have already been put into motion, and we can use this as an opportunity to build upon the important work already underway. Our officers have demonstrated a commitment to improving practices and strengthening relationships with the community. Our police department has made significant progress, and of course, there is still more work that needs to be done. I see this moment as a positive one for our city and police department. After years of negotiation and back and forth, we can finally focus entirely on the implementation of better accountability, fairness, trust, collaboration, and safety for all residents. I am grateful to our city staff, our police department, and the Department of Justice for their years of hard work. I am especially grateful to you, the community. You have been engaged in every step of this process, and I hope you can see this moment and be proud of the work that you have put in over the years. Thank you.
Here are a few highlights from the consent decree:
• Community engagement: MPD operational strategies to address crime will be developed to further emphasize collaboration between the police and the community.
• Use of force review: MPD will institute both a robust Force Investigation Team to review certain uses of reportable force and a Force Review Board to provide executive review of certain use of force incidents.
• First Amendment: The MPD will adopt, train on, and sustain policies that facilitate the exercise of First Amendment rights of community members and journalists while enabling MPD to maintain public safety and order.
• Behavioral health response: The City will continue to advance and build on its behavioral crisis response with additional training, policies, protocols, reviews, and coordination.
• Supervision: Changes to supervision requirements will facilitate more officer accountability and evaluation opportunities.
The federal consent decree will be in effect at the same time as a similar settlement agreement with the State of Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The reforms outlined in both agreements are expected to take several years to fully implement.
Sincerely,
Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw
You can view the full document on the city’s website at https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/police-public-safety/investigations-settlement-agreement/consent-decree/
You can also watch yesterday’s press conference on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/Uv7KLJyNDRI?si=cNyNVmeVeuAW35t7 |
