Minneapolis PD follows a pattern of ‘racial discrimination', finds report

A report released on Wednesday concluded that the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and the City of Minneapolis (City) have been engaging “in a pattern or practice race discrimination,” for more than a decade.

The report—prompted by George Floyd’s killing by MPD officer Derek Chauvin—comprises a year-long investigation launched by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in 2020.

Reviewing over 700 hours of MPD police camera footage, 87 hours of MPD academy training for new officers, 480,000 pages of City and MPD documents from 2010 to 2020, the report further cited, “MPD’s data demonstrates significant racial disparities with respect to officers’ use of force, traffic stops, searches, citations, and arrests.” 

Another important finding was that the “ MPD officers used covert social media to surveil Black individuals and Black organizations, unrelated to criminal activity,”.

This is widely concerning since 42% of the city’s residents are people of color and indigenous. Furthermore, 19% among them are African-Americans.

Officials respond
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey commented that he found the report “repugnant” and “at times horrific”.

Interim Police Chief Amelia Huffman called the report “deeply concerning to everyone” but insisted to reporters that MDP has made several changes. She stressed that she is open to more policing changes.

The report recommends the development of a ‘consent decree’. If implemented, a consent decree would be unlike other Minneapolis police reforms. It will be issued by a judge and has to be adhered to by the MPD and City.