January 7, 2025

Greetings Ward 11,

Yesterday, the City of Minneapolis entered into a federal consent decree with the United States Department of Justice. The consent decree outlines policy, resource, and training requirements that will continue to help guide the City’s and Minneapolis Police Department’s reform efforts moving forward.  

This is a pivotal moment for our city. The consent decree provides a clear roadmap for the future of policing in Minneapolis, one that we will be held accountable to follow. The consent decree maps out the path ahead, and now it’s up to us to take the steps to achieve meaningful reform. This requires unwavering commitment and action. It’s up to us to transform the Minneapolis Police Department into a model law enforcement agency. It’s up to us to deliver lasting accountability and create a safer, fairer Minneapolis for all.

Under the consent decree:

• MPD will integrate community-oriented and problem-oriented policing principles—strategies that emphasize collaboration between policy and the community to address crime—into its policies and procedures, recruitment, training, personnel evaluations, resource deployment, and tactics;
• MPD officers will use de-escalation to minimize the need to use force and increase the likelihood of voluntary compliance; resolve incidents without force where possible; use force proportional to the threat; and MPD will enhance use-of-force policies, training, and review systems;
• The City and MPD will investigate allegations of officer misconduct fully, fairly, and efficiently, and hold officers who commit misconduct accountable pursuant to a system that is fair and consistent;
• MPD will respect the exercise of First Amendment rights while protecting public order and public safety;
• The City and MPD will maintain an emergency response system that serves people with behavioral health needs;
• The City will provide readily accessible confidential counseling and mental health wellness services to MPD officers;
• MPD officers will approach interactions with youth in a manner that is developmentally-appropriate, age-appropriate, and trauma-informed.

The decree calls for the appointment of the Effective Law Enforcement For All team as an independent monitor to assess whether the requirements of the decree are being implemented. The independent monitor will report publicly on the city’s implementation efforts on a regular basis.

The federal consent decree will be in effect at the same time as a similar settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Both agreements are expected to be in effect for several years.  

Learn more about the federal consent decree on the City’s website. 

In Gratitude,