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By Shannon McDonagh
News Reporter
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The Minneapolis City Council voted on Monday to enter an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that will invoke mass reform within the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).
The vote comes nearly five years after the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer, which sparked national protests as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Why It Matters
The proposition, known as a consent decree, is the culmination of a two-year federal investigation prompted by Floyd's death in 2020 at the hands of then-Officer Derek Chauvin. The DOJ's findings detailed widespread unconstitutional practices, including "unjustified deadly force," racial profiling and violations of First Amendment rights.
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The urgency of finalizing the deal—full details of the 140-page long document are yet to be shared—is heightened by the impending inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. During his previous administration, Trump was critical of consent decrees, viewing them as anti-police measures. Finalizing the agreement before his return to office would make it more challenging for the new administration to alter or rescind the decree, as any changes would require court approval.
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What We Know
Minneapolis City Council entered a closed session from 8:30 a.m. Monday to comb through the details of a consent decree and what it would mean for policing in the city.
A yes vote means the goal is to establish a framework for addressing systemic issues within the MPD, including the use of excessive force and racial discrimination. The city finds itself in the unusual position of operating under both state and federal decrees. Each decree stems from separate investigations uncovering different but overlapping problems.
What Could Change in Minneapolis Policing?
Among its provisions, MPD officers will be prohibited from certain stop-and-search practices and restricted in their use of specific crowd-control weapons. The agreement also requires the MPD to meet specified reform benchmarks under the supervision of an independent monitor and a federal judge.
Data from the DOJ investigation revealed that Black drivers were 6.5 times more likely to be stopped by MPD officers than white drivers, while Native American drivers faced an even higher disparity at 7.9 times. Officers also routinely neglected the safety of individuals in custody, with Attorney General Merrick Garland noting instances of detainees pleading for air while officers dismissed their complaints.
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Consent Decree Agreements Across the U.S.
Since April 2021, the DOJ has launched 12 investigations into state and local law enforcement, often spurred by high-profile police killings. It has finalized agreements with Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri. A consent decree in Louisville, Kentucky, tied to Breonna Taylor's death, awaits court approval. Memphis officials resist federal oversight, citing reforms after Tyre Nichols' fatal beating.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the reforms as "non-negotiable" in wake of the investigation back in 2023. "Progress can be painful, and the obstacles can be great. But we haven't let up in the three years since the murder of George Floyd," he said.
A similar consent decree between Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights was finalized in 2023 following a state investigation that revealed a decade-long pattern of racial discrimination by the MPD. That order prohibited all officers from the use of neck restraints—the method used to murder Floyd.
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What People Are Saying
"I'd like to thank our community for standing together, united in this, and for having patience with us as we have traveled a very, very long and challenging journey," Council President Elliott Payne said after the vote. "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."
"With a $230+ million budget and about 1,000 total staff, MPD has the resources to be able meet all the provisions in the state and federal consent decrees in a timely manner if MPD and city leadership is serious about the importance of this work," read a bulletin from City of Minneapolis Council Member Robin Wonsley before the vote.
What's Next
The consent decree will now be submitted to a federal judge for approval. Once finalized, an independent monitor will oversee its implementation, ensuring compliance with the outlined reforms. The process is expected to take years and cost the city millions of dollars.
Update 1/6/25, 6:01 p.m.: This article has been updated with the vote outcome and further information.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
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