 Mayor Jacob Frey and City leaders are celebrating a major milestone in their public safety efforts, with 2024 marking the first time in five years that the Minneapolis Police Department ended the year with a net increase of officers, adding 36 sworn police to the force. This significant achievement is the result of aggressive recruitment strategies, a historic new police contract, and a commitment to rebuilding the department’s ranks with dedicated, community-focused law enforcement professionals.
“For years, I’ve heard people ask for more police, but not just any police – they want a diverse pool of candidates that look like our city and have deep ties to the neighborhoods that they are protecting and serving. I’m proud to say that the thing so many people have been asking for is happening,” said Mayor Jacob Frey.
As most major cities continue to struggle with recruitment and retention of sworn officers—due to a combination of mass retirements, reduced interest in law enforcement careers, and a competitive job market—Minneapolis is showing signs of a rebound.
In 2024, the MPD saw a 133% increase in applications from the year prior and welcomed a total of 76 new hires for sworn positions, including:
- 36 sworn officers (already on the street).
- 22 lateral transfers.
- 14 recruits.
- 11 cadets.
- 21 Community Service Officers.
- 8 MPD interns.
 Last week, Mayor Jacob Frey announced the City of Minneapolis has agreed to a 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.
Since June 2020, Mayor Frey and City leadership have implemented sweeping reforms in policing and investments in a broader community safety ecosystem to provide comprehensive, equitable, and constitutional safety services to Minneapolis residents. These actions are a significant head start and have built the foundation for further reform efforts through the federal consent decree that will lead to lasting change. They include the Behavioral Crisis Response team, a new Office of Community Safety, new policies surrounding use of force, safety beyond policing initiatives, and much more.
"Our commitment to securing a federal consent decree has never wavered—it has been a top priority of my administration, and we are ready to act,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “This agreement reflects what our community has asked for and what we know is necessary: real accountability and meaningful change. I’m grateful to the Department of Justice for their partnership and urgency in helping us finalize this decree, ensuring we didn’t lose this critical opportunity to advance reforms and build on the important work already underway.”
 A 2024 press conference highlighting the 2040 Plan
On Monday, a lawsuit was dismissed against the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The Plan was passed in 2019 and has been a guiding vision for shaping how the city will grow, develop, and change over the next 20 years. This includes historic zoning reforms to allow for a diversity of use in all neighborhoods across the city.
Thanks in part to the 2040 Plan, Minneapolis has seen record-breaking levels of affordable rental housing units produced in the past several years, while also keeping rents at some of the lowest rates in the country.
"This is a win for our city, our community, and our ongoing housing efforts," said Mayor Jacob Frey. "The 2040 Plan enables us to build diverse, inclusive housing across neighborhoods, dismantling generations of intentional segregation. I’m proud we can continue this important work to ensure everyone has a place to call home."
Since 2018, Mayor Frey and the City of Minneapolis have invested more than $365 million into affordable rental housing and homeownership programs.
 Taste of Minnesota 2023
The Taste of Minnesota will return to downtown Minneapolis the weekend of July 5 and 6. Applications for food vendors and artists are now open through February 18. Vendors selling crafts and other goods have until March 31 to apply and the deadline for entertainers is April 30.
The annual festival celebrates all the best chefs, makers, and artists Minnesota has to offer, and the 2024 event was a huge success. Thousands flocked to Nicollet Mall to eat, shop, and enjoy performance by performers including the Wallflowers, Martina McBride, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Morris Day and the Time.
Mayor Frey looks forward to seeing you at the event this summer!
 Mayor Frey sits down with KSTP's Tom Hauser
 Welcoming a new class of 21 Minneapolis firefighters
 Mayor Frey and his family
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