MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council on Monday approved an agreement with the federal government to overhaul the city’s police training and use-of-force policies following the murder of George Floyd. This pivotal action comes amid a national reckoning with police brutality and systemic racism in the USA.
The 171-page agreement, filed in federal court shortly after the council’s unanimous 12-0 vote, mandates that the police department require its officers to “promote the sanctity of human life as the highest priority in their activities.” It emphasizes that officers must “carry out their law enforcement duties with professionalism and respect for the dignity of every person.” Additionally, the agreement states that race, gender, or ethnicity must not influence any decision regarding the use of force, including the amount or type of force applied.
Known as a consent decree, this agreement places the department under long-term court supervision. Negotiations had been ongoing since the Department of Justice issued a critical report concerning the city’s police practices in June 2023.
The Justice Department’s report revealed a pattern of systemic discrimination against racial minorities, violations of constitutional rights, and a longstanding disregard for the safety of individuals in police custody prior to Floyd’s tragic death. This comprehensive investigation, spanning two years, validated numerous citizen complaints about police conduct and documented instances of excessive force, including “unjustified deadly force.” Furthermore, it highlighted rights violations against individuals exercising constitutionally protected speech.
An independent monitor will oversee the implementation of the changes, which require court approval. During his first administration, President-elect Donald Trump criticized consent decrees as anti-police. Therefore, finalizing the Minneapolis agreement before he returns to office on January 20 would complicate efforts to undermine the deal, as any changes would necessitate court validation.
The council’s decision to approve the deal was made during a brief public vote that followed hours of closed-door discussions. Council President Elliott Payne expressed gratitude to the community for their perseverance throughout this challenging process, stating, “We’re just beginning, and we know we have a long way to go. Our success will only be realized when we all work together on what is arguably one of the most important issues in the life of our city.”
In a pre-vote statement, Council Member Robin Wonsley expressed skepticism regarding the Trump administration’s commitment to the agreement’s implementation. She noted, “Having a federal consent decree signed and in place is valuable to police reform efforts, but we need to be sober about the fact that it will take local political will to hold the city and the (Mayor Jacob) Frey administration accountable to implementing and enforcing the terms of the consent decree.”
A state court judge in 2023 approved a similar agreement between Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights following a scathing report by the state agency in 2022. This investigation revealed a decade-long pattern of racial discrimination by the police.
Since April 2021, the Justice Department has initiated 12 similar investigations into local and state law enforcement agencies, many triggered by high-profile police-related deaths. Agreements have been reached with cities such as Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago, and Ferguson, Missouri, while a consent decree with Louisville, Kentucky, remains pending court approval following the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor. In Memphis, Tennessee, the mayor recently resisted calls for a consent decree, asserting that the city has made significant reforms since the beating death of Tyre Nichols.
Consent decrees obligate law enforcement agencies to achieve specific goals before federal oversight can be lifted, a process that typically spans years and incurs substantial costs. A major reason behind Minneapolis hiring Brian O’Hara as police chief in 2022 was his experience with implementing a consent decree in Newark, New Jersey.
If the Minneapolis federal agreement secures court approval, the city will uniquely operate under both federal and state consent decrees.
