Mayor Jacob Frey announced the City of Minneapolis has agreed to 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 over the next several years.
The City and MPD have already begun to implement many of the agreed-upon changes, including enhanced community engagement, the overhaul of the use-of-force review process, new policies for First Amendment activities, and a new disciplinary matrix. The MPD will now work with the court-appointed independent monitor, Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA), to evaluate these changes and work toward full compliance.
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. Learn more about the federal consent decree on the City website.
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Online community meeting Jan. 14
The Justice Department will hold an online community meeting Jan. 14. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the consent decree.
Justice Department community meeting
7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14
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 The Minneapolis Police Department welcomed eight CSOs and 24 Cadets at a welcoming ceremony held Jan. 7 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis Police Department welcomed its largest group of new hires in the past five years on Jan. 7 at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in North Minneapolis. City of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, MPD Chief Brian O’Hara, and Attorney General Keith Ellison thanked the future MPD officers at the special welcoming ceremony where they were honored by family and friends.
In all, eight Community Service Officers (CSOs) and 24 Cadets were welcomed. Both the CSO and Cadet pathways are two strong recruitment pipelines for MPD to hire and retain committed individuals on the force.
MPD hires CSOs, pays their salary and covers their college tuition as they earn a two-year law enforcement degree. Cadets are future MPD officers who have already earned a college degree in a field other than law enforcement. They now embark on a nine-month process, where they earn a salary while attending the MPD Police Academy and complete the SKILLS portion of the law enforcement, higher-ed degree requirements. After they complete both requirements, the cadets will be promoted to police officers.
“We are committed to supporting our officers from the very beginning of their law enforcement journeys," said Chief O'Hara. "Our CSO and Cadet programs are unique pathways to becoming a police officer with MPD."
"We don't want money to be a barrier," O'Hara added. "These programs are pivotal to us attracting men and women who best fit our department and who we believe will best serve our residents with courage and compassion."
O'Hara said this year’s group of new hires includes people from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Taiwan, Somalia, Vietnam and Turkey. One member comes from the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. A handful also served in the Armed Forces.
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 Mayor Jacob Frey (far left) and MFD Chief Bryan Tyner (far right) pose with the newly graduated class of Minneapolis Fire Department cadets.
The Minneapolis Fire Department welcomed a new class of 21 new team members at the Firefighter Cadet Graduation ceremony held Jan. 3 at the Ukrainian Center in Northeast Minneapolis.
"That badge is worn over your left breast, which also contains your heart," said Minneapolis Fire Department Chief Bryan Tyner as he addressed the new firefighters. "It's worn over your heart because your heart contains the courage and the empathy that in many ways is going to define the rest of your career. And what is really going to drive your success in this career."
The MFD class of 2025 included five members whose badges were pinned by family members who were also firefighters.
"I ask that you wear this uniform proudly and that you represent yourself in the highest manner," Tyner said. "That badge that we're talking about comes with about two centuries of trust that was built into it."
 Minneapolis Fire Department Chief Bryan Tyner spoke about the fire equipment donated to Ukraine. Photo by Jerry Holt | The Minnesota Star Tribune
The Minneapolis Fire Department donated life-saving equipment to Ukraine first responders, adding several pallets of fire equipment and medical supplies to other donations from fire departments from across the metro.
“The need is there,” said Minneapolis Fire Department Chief Bryan Tyner. “People need help all over the world, especially in Ukraine, who as we know is at war right now, and may not have access to a lot of these materials.”
The supplies included five Hurst tools with power units and spreaders, 12-foot lockers of medical supplies and a pallet of mixed Haz Mat and medical supplies. MFD worked with MATTER, a St. Louis Park non-profit, that organized the donations and shipments to Ukraine.
MFD Assistant Chief Melanie Rucker added that MFD was built to serve the community. "I always say, if you have the capacity and the means to help others, then do so," she said. "As firefighters, in many ways, we are selfless, risking a lot to save lives and serve others to the best of our abilities. Minneapolis Fire’s donation of equipment is just us spreading our community service to Ukraine."
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The 12-week paid internship program offers a career-starting pathway for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training and certification
 Hosted in partnership with Hennepin Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Minneapolis Fire Department, the EMS Pathways Academy is a paid internship program for students to jumpstart a public service career. Graduates of the academy have successfully become Minneapolis Firefighters and Hennepin EMS Dispatchers. Graduates have also gone on to join the Hennepin County EMS trainee program, ultimately becoming Hennepin EMS paramedics.
Obtaining an EMT certification opens the door to many career paths. The field of EMTs has experienced rapid growth in recent years. As more jobs for EMTs are created, it is necessary to fill these positions with qualified candidates who reflect the multilingual and culturally diverse communities that our city serves.
Applicants must have a high school diploma/GED and be authorized to work in the U.S. To apply for the internship, visit the City's website. Internship application period will be open from Dec. 30 - Jan. 13. Learn more about the program on the City's EMS Pathways webpage.
January 2025 information sessions
Interested in learning more? The is one remaining information session.
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11
at Minneapolis American Indian Center, 1530 E. Franklin Ave.
Click to view the EMS Pathways flyer.
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 Learn the basics of emergency preparedness at Ready Camp, hosted by the City of Minneapolis' Emergency Management department, on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The free day-long training will provide you knowledge and skills to build an emergency kit, develop a communication plan, prepare for severe weather emergencies and recovery from an emergency or disaster.
All ages are welcome. Children who are 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Registration is now open on the Eventbrite website. Class capacity is 50 people.
Please note: This event has been updated to be held over the course of one day, Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the North Regional Library, room 205, at 1315 Lowry Ave. N.
View the Ready Camp flyer for additional information.
Questions about Ready Camp can be directed to LaVina Branscomb, Emergency Management communication and outreach coordinator, at lavina.branscomb@minneapolismn.gov.
After months of community engagement, the City of Minneapolis is moving forward to redevelop the City-owned building at 3000 Minnehaha Ave. Sixty-three percent of the respondents favor a mixed-use democracy center proposal. The center would house the City’s Elections & Voter Services, allowing a large ground-floor space for community use. The City is now looking for a tenant to lease that part of the center for community-focused space.
Democracy center proposal
Throughout the summer, the City conducted open houses, conversations and surveys. The most residents favored the democracy center proposal and also showed interest in several uses for the community space, including:
- Social services
- Community-based cultural programs
- Business or commercial uses
Next steps
The City has requested proposals for a tenant who will program the community space. Proposals are due March 14.
The City will proceed with design and renovation plans. The City intends to include the selected tenant in the planning, design and build-out of the community space.
To learn more, visit the City website.
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 The Minneapolis Police Department once again teamed with Ally Force Ministries for their annual Holiday Toy Giveaway on Dec. 23.
Held at the Special Operations Center, hundreds of family members formed a line out the front of the building and along the sidewalk as the doors opened at 5:00 PM. Santa was there to greet young visitors and hand out candy canes. Each child (ages birth to 16) was given the opportunity to select one gift and one stocking stuffer from tables filled with popular toys, games and items for self-care.
Almost 40 volunteers from the MPD, CSOs, Chaplains, Child Protection Services and social workers helped each of the 640 kids find the perfect gift. Ally Force Ministries takes in toy donations each year and partners with the MPD to distribute them at the event.
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