Transformational Changes
Clear, Effective Policies
The court enforceable agreement requires the City and MPD to set and enforce clear policies that build community trust, provide non-discriminatory public safety, and reduce dangers for officers.
The court enforceable agreement requires the City and MPD, in part, to:
- Require officers to de-escalate
- Prohibit officers from using force to punish or retaliate
- Prohibit the use of certain pretext stops
- Ban searches based on alleged smells of cannabis
- Prohibit so-called consent searches during pedestrian or vehicle stops
- Limit when officers can use force
- Limit when and how officers can use chemical irritants and tasers
- Ban “excited delirium” training
The court enforceable agreement does not prohibit an officer from relying on reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity to enforce the law.
Training, Engagement, Accountability, and Data Collection
The court enforceable agreement prioritizes organizational culture change to strengthen public safety by requiring the City and/or MPD to provide training, engagement, accountability, and data collection for all policy changes.
- Quality training and support. For MPD officers to understand and follow policies, the court enforceable agreement requires the City and MPD to provide officers and employees with quality, timely training. The agreement also requires the City and MPD to provide officers with a range of support services, including meaningful mental health support and a well-functioning early intervention system.
- Meaningful engagement. While MPD is developing and updating its policies, the court enforceable agreement requires MPD to engage with and collect feedback from the people who are most impacted by MPD’s policies – both community members and officers.
- Strong accountability and oversight. The agreement requires the City and MPD to develop robust and well-functioning accountability and oversight systems so MPD officers are held to the highest standards of integrity. The City and MPD are also required to conduct thorough investigations of police misconduct.
- Robust data collection and transparency. Recognizing that data-driven decision making supports a culture of accountability and transparency, the agreement requires the City and MPD to strengthen its data collection mechanisms, produce an annual use of force report, and create a public database of discipline records. To support a culture of continuous learning, the agreement also establishes an MPD Review Panel to regularly assess MPD’s enforcement practices and determine whether changes to trainings, policies, and tactics are necessary to address patterns of discrimination and bias.
Sustained and Coordinated Action through Independent Oversight and Court Enforcement
The court enforceable agreement provides City and MPD leaders with the framework for sustained and coordinated action needed to change organizational culture to strengthen public safety.
- Framework for sustained and coordinated action. The legally binding agreement provides clear timelines for prioritization, incorporates independent oversight, and can only be terminated by the court when the City and MPD have reached full, effective, and sustained compliance with the terms in the agreement.
- Independent oversight. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the City will identify an independent evaluation team to support the City and MPD, monitor their progress, engage with community members and police officers, and provide regular, public reports.
