Hennepin County Judge Orders Mpls. Police Department To Make Immediate Changes
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Hennepin County judge approved a proposed court order on Monday filed by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) that will require the Minneapolis Police Department to implement initial structural changes.
The order also requires the MPD to fully comply with the ongoing civil rights investigation by the MDHR, and failure to comply could lead to penalties.
"Today's court order will create immediate change for communities of color and Indigenous communities who have suffered generational pain and trauma as a result of systemic and institutional racism and long-standing problems in policing," said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero.
The court order by Hennepin County District Court Judge Karen Janisch, states that the City of Minneapolis must implement the following:
- Ban the use of all neck restraints and choke holds.
- Any police officer, regardless of tenure or rank, must report while still on scene if they observe another police officer use any unauthorized use of force, including any choke hold or neck restraint.
- Any police officer, regardless of tenure or rank, must intervene by verbal and physical means if they observe another police officer use any unauthorized use of force, including any choke hold or neck restraint.
- Only the Police Chief or the Chief's designee at the rank of Deputy Chief may approve the use of crowd control weapons, including chemical agents, rubber bullets, flash-bangs, batons, and marking rounds, during protests and demonstrations.
- The Police Chief must make timely and transparent discipline decisions for police officers as outlined in the order.
- Civilian body worn camera footage analysts and investigators in the City's Office of Police Conduct Review have the authority to proactively audit body worn camera footage and file or amend complaints on behalf of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department.
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