WASHINGTON – Minneapolis and its police department engage in a pattern of violating people’s rights through the unnecessary, unjustified use of deadly force and discrimination, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday after a two-year investigation following George Floyd’s death.
“MPD uses unreasonable force, infringes on First Amendment rights, and discriminates based on race and disability,” the report said. “MPD also lacks the systemic safeguards that can prevent or address those abuses, such as effective accountability, rigorous training, robust supervision, and appropriate officer support.”
“Such conduct is deeply disturbing and it erodes the community’s trust in law enforcement,” Garland said.
“For years, MPD used dangerous techniques and weapons against people who committed at most a petty offense and sometimes no offense at all,” the report said. “MPD used force to punish people who made officers angry or criticized the police.”
DOJ, Minneapolis to negotiate federal court agreement overseeing policing
The Justice Department and city officials have reached an agreement in principle to negotiate a concern decree so that an independent monitor will oversee changes in local policing enforceable in federal court. The decree could take months to negotiate and years to accomplish its goals, officials said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said every level of government and city agency understands change is “non-negotiable.” The city has already hired a new police chief and new city attorney, he said.
“Our success will be defined by people feeling safer when interacting with police in our city,” Frey said. “We are not going to stop until every single person in every single neighborhood and zip code feels safe interacting with police.”
Usatoday