The U.S. Department of Justice has reached an agreement with the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) to address unconstitutional practices found in their operations. This consent decree aims to rectify violations related to the First, Fourth, and 14th Amendments of the Constitution, as well as breaches of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal anti-discrimination laws.
The consent decree was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and awaits court approval. It outlines a series of reforms designed to tackle issues such as excessive force, racially discriminatory policing, youth interactions, protection of First Amendment rights, discrimination against individuals with behavioral health disabilities, officer well-being, and enhanced supervision and accountability. The Effective Law Enforcement For All team will serve as an independent monitor to evaluate compliance with these reforms.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of this agreement by stating, “This agreement places the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department on a path toward achieving the significant reforms, lawful policing, and appropriate emergency response services that the residents of Minneapolis deserve.” He added that it is a step towards ensuring meaningful reform in response to past grievances highlighted by incidents such as George Floyd's death.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke commented on the potential impact of these measures: “The people of Minneapolis deserve constitutional policing, bias-free public safety efforts, and effective emergency response services.” She noted that through this decree, both city officials and law enforcement are committing to reforms aimed at making MPD a model agency respecting civil rights.
Ana Voss from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota described this initiative as one seeking “focused, measurable, and detailed reforms” reflecting community input towards positive transformation.
Key components of this decree include using de-escalation tactics over force where possible; enforcing laws impartially without racial bias; respecting free speech rights; maintaining respectful emergency responses for those with behavioral health issues; thoroughly investigating misconduct; approaching youth interactions appropriately; and providing mental health services for officers.
These actions follow findings announced by the Justice Department in June 2023 after an extensive investigation into MPD's conduct. They identified excessive use of force including deadly encounters and taser usage without justification, racial discrimination against Black and Native American communities in enforcement activities, infringement on protected speech rights, alongside systemic policy deficiencies contributing to these issues.
This initiative is part of broader efforts underlined by several ongoing investigations into law enforcement agencies since January 2021 by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section. The Justice Department also seeks similar resolutions elsewhere such as in Louisville Metro Government concerning its police department's conduct.
Further information about this effort can be accessed through various channels provided by both divisions involved in this process. A virtual community meeting will be held on January 14 at 7:00 p.m. CT to discuss further details about these developments.