Court Orders Minneapolis Police To Make Immediate Changes

MINNEAPOLIS — Hennepin County Court Monday gave the OK to the structural changes state officials are requiring of the Minneapolis Police Department. The changes are part of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights' ongoing civil rights investigation into the department, which began after the death of George Floyd.

"Today’s court order will create immediate change for communities of color and Indigenous communities who have suffered generational pain and trauma as a result of systemic and institutional racism and long-standing problems in policing," said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.

Under the court order entered by Hennepin County District Court Judge Karen Janisch, the city of Minneapolis must implement the following measures:

• Ban the use of all neck restraints and choke holds.
• Any police officer, regardless of tenure or rank, must report while still on scene if they observe another police officer use any unauthorized use of force, including any choke hold or neck restraint.
• Any police officer, regardless of tenure or rank, must intervene by verbal and physical means if they observe another police officer use any unauthorized use of force, including any choke hold or neck restraint.
• Only the Police Chief or the Chief’s designee at the rank of Deputy Chief may approve the use of crowd control weapons, including chemical agents, rubber bullets, flash-bangs, batons, and marking rounds, during protests and demonstrations.
• The Police Chief must make timely and transparent discipline decisions for police officers as outlined in the order.
• Civilian body worn camera footage analysts and investigators in the City’s Office of Police Conduct Review have the authority to proactively audit body worn camera footage and file or amend complaints on behalf of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department.

Failure to comply with the reforms could lead to penalties, according to a news release.

The court order also requires the Minneapolis Police Department to fully comply with the ongoing civil rights investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.