The investigation was initiated partially in response to the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, a tragic event that ignited widespread racial justice and anti-police brutality demonstrations across the country. The subsequent report revealed that the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) harbored systemic issues that directly contributed to the circumstances leading to Floyd’s death. Despite previous reform attempts, these entrenched problems persisted, as stated in the report. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized during a press conference, “We also found that MPD officers regularly showed a callous disregard for the well-being of individuals under their custody. Our inquiry uncovered numerous instances where MPD officers dismissed pleas of ‘I can’t breathe’ with insensitive replies such as, ‘You can breathe, you’re talking right now.'”
The investigation highlighted a disturbing incident from 2017, where an MPD officer fatally shot an unarmed woman who had inadvertently startled him while approaching his patrol car. Garland recounted, “The woman had dialed 911 to report a potential sexual assault in a nearby alley.” Furthermore, the report exposed a pattern within the MPD of disproportionately targeting, searching, and using force against Black and Native American individuals. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights, in collaboration with the City of Minneapolis, had imposed a consent decree on the MPD in 2023, mandating significant overhauls to address race-based policing practices.
This consent decree was described by the human rights agency as “a legally binding agreement outlining specific reforms and timelines for their implementation.” Prior to this, in 2022, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights had also determined that the MPD engaged in discriminatory practices based on race, in violation of state law, leading to the formulation of an ongoing consent decree. ABC News’ Alexander Mallin provided additional contributions to this comprehensive report.
Years following the tragic death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis Police Department is now confronted with the imperative task of undertaking substantial reforms to rectify systemic issues deeply ingrained within the department. The ongoing efforts to reform the MPD are crucial in fostering accountability, transparency, and equity within law enforcement practices to ensure the protection and well-being of all community members. While progress has been made through the implementation of consent decrees and heightened scrutiny, the road to true reform remains complex and demanding, necessitating sustained commitment and vigilance from all stakeholders involved.
