MN County Attorneys: Give AG Power Over All Police Killings

TWIN CITIES, MN — The Minnesota County Attorneys Association Thursday voted in favor of giving the state's Attorney General’s Office power in all cases of police-involved shootings and other police-involved deaths in the state.

"Our entire Association extends our heartfelt sympathy to George Floyd’s family and to the collective community that mourns his loss and advocates for honest dialog and real and immediate change in his name," Aaron Jordan, Stevens County Attorney and MCAA President, said in a statement.

Attorney General Keith Ellison was recently appointed as special prosecutor in the George Floyd case. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, who would normally handle such a case, will assist Ellison's office.

Bob Small, MCAA Executive Director added, "This was a preventable tragedy and an affront to justice everywhere. MCAA acknowledges that justice demands our organization rise to this important moment and stand for criminal justice reform that improves transparency, accountability and community trust."

The MCAA represents all 87 Minnesota county attorneys.

At its Thursday meeting, the MCAA also:

• Asked the Legislature to support additional funding to the Attorney General’s Office to enable them to secure the "best and brightest" trial lawyers to handle police-involved deaths.
• Recommended legislation that would authorize the Attorney General to request the assistance of local prosecutors to aid in these cases if needed.
• Recommended the designation and financial support of a special investigative unit within the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to independently investigate these cases in all situations, unless the officer involved is a BCA agent.

All actions were taken in response to the deepening mistrust in our criminal justice system following the death of Floyd, according to a news release.