After 16 months of focused efforts, the City of Minneapolis’ Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR) has completed the necessary investigative work on all 234 cases in its historic backlog. The completion of these cases – some of which still await panel review and recommendation followed by a final decision from the Chief of Police – is an important milestone in the City’s commitment to creating meaningful, transparent oversight and accountability for Minneapolis police.

OPCR is a division of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department, serving as a neutral agency that investigates allegations of police misconduct made by members of the public, and a central part of Minneapolis’ police reform efforts. The office has grown in capacity and efficiency as a result of effective leadership, a new team structure with increased accountability and staff support, clear roles and responsibilities, and innovative changes to the process.

“You can’t rebuild trust without accountability — and that’s exactly what this milestone represents,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “By reaching this milestone, the City is making good on its commitment to a police oversight system that is transparent, responsive, and worthy of the people it serves. I’m grateful to our Civil Rights and OPCR teams for setting a new standard for accountability.”

The OPCR backlog is defined as any complaint that was received on or prior to May 23, 2024. Factors that led to the backlog include a significant increase in complaints in 2020, staffing challenges/turnover, and leadership changes.

Former Civil Rights Director Michelle Phillips was hired by the City in July 2024 with the backlog established as a key priority. Since then:

• Twelve new hires/personnel changes have been made since the backlog was defined last May
• Russell Fujisawa was hired as OPCR Director in November 2024 to lead staffing and process changes to achieve results.
• A new line of supervision within the Office has also been established, including the creation of intake supervisor, investigations supervisor, and policy and research coordinator roles. These new hires include individuals with broad but highly relevant experience including former public defenders, former law enforcement professionals and mental health professionals.

By making these changes and more, OPCR has not just addressed the existing backlog but has created a structure to prevent future backlogs from accumulating. Completion of the investigative work will also allow staff to focus on addressing newer complaints, providing an even more efficient and effective investigations process while also moving the City closer to compliance with expectations outlined in the MDHR settlement agreement.

Phillips made a major impact during her year in the office. Since her departure, Interim Civil Rights Director Kaela McConnon Diarra’s deep experience and steady leadership has continued and deepened that momentum.

“I am immensely proud of our OPCR leadership and staff and grateful for their work to meet this pivotal milestone,” said McConnon Diarra. “With investigative work on the case backlog complete, the Office can prioritize more recent police misconduct complaints and implement shorter investigative timeliness, providing an efficient and effective investigative process for these complaints. The Civil Rights Department values the voices of community and encourages those who feel they have experienced or are otherwise aware of police misconduct to come forward and make a complaint with our office.”

“This accomplishment represents a significant step forward for our office and reflects the diligence, professionalism, and integrity of our investigators and staff,” said Russell Fujisawa, Director of the Office of Police Conduct Review.  I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of the OPCR team in completing the investigative work on the backlog of misconduct cases. I am proud to have supported this effort and am deeply appreciative of the team’s commitment to advancing accountability and public trust.

As outlined in the OPCR complaint process, cases that have left the investigative phase have additional steps to undergo before being considered fully cleared. These include a panel review and recommendation, by panels including two civilian members of the Community Commission on Police Oversight (CCPO) and one sworn member of the Minneapolis Police Department at Lieutenant rank or higher as well as a review and final decision by the Chief of Police. In some circumstances, cases may be referred back to OPCR for further investigation by the review panel or the Chief’s office.