Police violated civil rights
July 2023
By Access Press Staff
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released an 89-page report outlining longstanding issues of misconduct and civil rights violations by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and the City of Minneapolis. The DOJ report detailed excessive use of force against residents from 2016 to 2022, including violations of constitutional and federal rights.
Notably, the police and city officials were found to have violated the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in cases involving individuals with behavioral health disabilities. The report recommended addressing policy, training, supervision, and accountability deficiencies.
The violations encompassed discrimination against Black and Native American people, inappropriate responses to mental health crises, excessive use of force leading to unnecessary deaths, and retaliation against journalists and community members recording police actions.
The DOJ proposed remedial measures and emphasized the need for improved training, de-escalation techniques, and collaboration with behavioral health crisis service providers. The report acknowledged some changes the city and MPD made but highlighted additional measures required to address the findings fully. The report is part of the DOJ's "pattern and practice" investigation and is separate from the criminal cases related to George Floyd's death.
The city and MPD leaders expressed an agreement in principle to resolve the issues through a court-enforceable consent decree with an independent monitor, aiming for meaningful and durable reform.