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Updates related to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Settlement Agreement |
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The report released on January 15, 2026 by Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA), the Independent Monitor for the Settlement Agreement between the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR), covers the reporting period of April 1 to Sept. 30, 2025. This is the 3rd report by ELEFA since it began monitoring the progress of the City’s compliance with the Settlement Agreement on March 18, 2024.
The City's statement about the report
ELEFA’s report reflects our ceaseless commitment to meeting the terms of the Settlement Agreement as well as the terms we’ve imposed on ourselves to meet the proposed federal consent decree. Comprehensive police reform is a complex and challenging process that requires years, not months, of dedicated effort, and we value ELEFA’s independent role in assessing our progress as well as areas where continued focus is needed.
We remain fully committed to carrying out this work by strengthening policies, delivering meaningful training, and ensuring resources are aligned and used effectively to support lasting, fair, and constitutional policing in Minneapolis.
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Key passages from ELEFA's report
We have highlighted some key passages from the progress report.
- “The City and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) have made measurable and meaningful progress in laying the foundation necessary to achieve the Settlement Agreement’s goals. MPD personnel are working hard to fulfill their responsibilities with respect to implementation.”
- “The foundations for reform—revised policies, a training plan and course materials, upgraded facilities, improved data, and early systems development—are well underway, reflecting the City’s and MPD’s significant investment of time and effort.”
- “Whatever the shortcomings are, however, we do not attribute them to lack of commitment by the City or the MPD.”
- “Moreover, it is important to acknowledge the many City and MPD personnel, sworn and non-sworn, who not only support the Agreement’s goals but are working hard and conscientiously to implement its requirements.”
- “The lesson from prior consent decrees is that institutional transformation is complex, challenging, and rarely proceeds as rapidly as the parties to the agreements hope at the outset. This reality clashes with the public’s equally real impatience for change and skepticism that it will occur. The goal, and challenge, is to manage these two realities so that public confidence grows through the transformation process.”
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The City's key achievements are identified
ELEFA’s report identifies many positive steps the City has taken to fulfill its commitment to meeting the terms of the Settlement Agreement. However, these actions are not limited to the Settlement Agreement.
As directed by the Mayor, the City is also concurrently working to meet the terms of the proposed federal consent decree, reflecting the dedication and hard work of Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers and City staff to create sustainable reforms and a safer community.
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Policy and Procedure Approvals
Several policies and procedures were approved during this reporting period, including:
- Emergency Medical Response
- Non-Discriminatory Policing
- Procedural Justice and Professional Policing
- Member Health and Wellness
- Member Medical Information, Injury, and Incident Response
- Body Worn Cameras and In-Car Cameras
- BWC and ICC Data Management
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Training Development
MPD and City staff have worked with vendors to develop the following training curricula during the last reporting period:
- Use of Force (approved)
- Supervisor Leadership (approved)
- Non-Discriminatory Policing (under review)
- Health, Wellness, and Early Intervention Systems (under review)
- Crisis Intervention Training:
- For current MPD officers (8-hour refresher training) (under review)
- For new MPD officers (40-hour course) (under review)
- For call-takers and dispatchers (under review)
- Implementation of the MPD Policy and Resource Hub
MPD’s new policy management software, which was launched earlier this month, allows for easier access for both MPD personnel and the public to access MPD’s policies.
- Peer Support Team Deployed
MPD’s new Peer Support Team was deployed to multiple traumatic incidents and received positive feedback.
- Call Center Dispatchers and Crisis Intervention Training
While this training is being developed, part of this has been addressed by launch of the embedded social worker, in partnership with Hennepin County and the City's Performance Management and Innovation Department.
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Challenges identified by ELEFA
We are aware of the challenges outlined in ELEFA’s report, and we’ve already been taking renewed steps to address them. Meaningful police reform is a marathon, not a sprint. We also continue to be challenged by the lack of resources and the financial commitment to meaningful change. Progress toward meeting the goals has been slowed by personnel and resource deficits, as well as communications gaps we’ve identified and are addressing.
The challenges listed in the report and steps taken to address them include:
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For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats, please contact 311 at 612-673-3000.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users call 612-263-6850.
Para asistencia, llame al 311. Rau kev pab 311. Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 311.
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