The investigation is looking into whether the Minneapolis Police Department's trainings, policies, procedures, practices, including but not limited to use of force protocol, and any corresponding implementation, amounts to unlawful race-based policing from the past 10 years.
Under state law, a Commissioner's charge may be used whenever the Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights has reason to believe that a person or entity is engaging in an unfair discriminatory practice. A Commissioner’s charge is a helpful tool to investigate cases where systemic discrimination may be present.
In this case, the Commissioner's charge alleged the City of Minneapolis Police Department discriminated in the area of public services based on race in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
The charge alleged the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers may have constituted race-based discrimination and the Commissioner has reason to believe that this incident is part of a broader pattern and practice of race-based policing in violation of the state's civil rights law.
This investigation is focused on the Minneapolis Police Department. If you experienced or witnessed discrimination by another police department, report discrimination online here.
Minnesotans with information that can further the civil investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department should contact our Department by calling 651-539-1100 or submitting information on this online form.
