Dear neighbor,
I wanted to send you an update on the U.S. Department of Justice Consent Decree that was meant to mandate needed changes to the Minneapolis Police Department.
On January 6, 2025, the Minneapolis City Council held a special meeting and approved a federal consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the Minneapolis Police Department. This consent decree was meant to reform the Minneapolis Police Department after an investigation following the murder of George Floyd and outlined policy, resource, and training requirements that were meant to help guide the City’s and Minneapolis Police Department’s reform efforts moving forward.
Specifically, the United States Department of Justice found that the Minneapolis Police Department:
- Uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and unreasonable use of tasers
- Unlawfully discriminates against Black people and Native American people in its enforcement activities, including the use of force following stops
- Violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech
- Discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance.
- Persistent deficiencies in policy, training, supervision, and accountability contribute to the unlawful conduct.
This morning, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division filed a motion asking the court to dismiss the consent decree with the City of Minneapolis (we will need to wait until the judge rules on this case). As we near the fifth year since the Minneapolis Police Department murdered George Floyd in the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood, these actions are a stark reminder of how our system of policing still needs structural reform and accountability. Actions like today are meant to sanitize what residents experienced but we will not let them erase our history.
I voted in favor of this consent decree because of inaction, minimal police reform and lack of accountability. It’s painful to see the voices of our community be dismissed. While the federal government has abandoned efforts to hold the police accountable, you have my commitment to ensure that we do not lose any of the reforms our community was meant to gain from this.
At the City Council, we will do everything possible to move forward with the MDHR Settlement Agreement and implement provisions in the Federal Consent Decree.
Sincerely,
Jason Chavez |
