Last updated on March 31, 2023
Minnesota Department of Human Rights investigation
Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) begins investigation
In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, MDHR filed a charge of discrimination against the City and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) to investigate whether the City and MPD had engaged in a pattern and practice of racially-discriminatory policing in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
The City welcomed this investigation.
Temporary restraining order issued
On June 8, 2020, the City and MDHR agreed to a temporary restraining order. It required several changes to MPD policy, including banning chokeholds.
Minneapolis cooperates with investigation
As part of the investigation, the City and MPD:
- Responded to numerous information requests
- Provided dozens of witnesses for interviews
- Produced thousands of pages of documents to the MDHR
MDHR releases the findings of its investigation
On April 27, 2022, MDHR issued a report stating that it had determined that there is probable cause that the City and MPD engaged in a pattern or practice of race discrimination in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
MDHR and the City agree to a Joint Statement of Principles
After finding that there is probable cause that City and MPD engage in a pattern or practice of race discrimination, the MDHR and the City began working together to develop a court enforceable settlement agreement, to resolve the probable cause determination.
On July 13, 2022, the City and MDHR agreed to a Joint Statement of Principles that guided efforts to reach a court enforceable settlement agreement that fall.
The City and MDHR agreed to work together to develop a framework to ensure lawful, non-discriminatory policing and to better support public safety in Minneapolis. To specifically focus on:
- Use of force
- Supervision
- Traffic stop enforcement
- Arrests
- Training
- Accountability and oversight systems including disciplinary systems
- The organizational culture within MPD
- Community trust
- Officer wellness and support
- Data collection
- Transparency
The City and MDHR will work together to include a method of assessing, reporting on, and compliance with the agreement.
City Council and Mayor approve settlement agreement
The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey approved terms of a court-enforceable settlement agreement.
City awaits findings of Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation
The City recognizes that the DOJ is also conducting an investigation of MPD to determine if there are violations of federal law and the United States Constitution. If the DOJ reaches a consent decree with the City, MDHR and the City will modify the agreement to ensure that:
- There are no conflicting provisions between the consent decree and the agreement
- Compliance with both is possible
- There is no more than one monitor