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Minneapolis mayor calls special meeting for Dept. of Justice consent decree

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Published  January 2, 2025 2:18pm CST
Minneapolis
FOX 9

DOJ finds pattern of force within Minneapolis PD

The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released its findings after a two-year investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.

The Brief

    • The City of Minneapolis tentatively agreed to a federal consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice that will reform policing practices, according to sources.
    • The agreement is a direct response to the killing of George Floyd by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
    • The Minneapolis City Council is expected to vote on the consent decree during a special meeting called by Mayor Frey at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 6.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minneapolis City Council is expected to vote on a federal consent decree between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice to reform the Minneapolis Police Department following the murder of George Floyd. 

Consent decree 

What we know: A "tentative agreement" between the City of Minneapolis and the U.S. Department of Justice was reached earlier this week, according to The Minnesota Star Tribune.

The document still needs to be approved by the Minneapolis City Council before the enforceable agreement is filed in federal court. 

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry called a special meeting for the morning of Monday, Jan. 6, "for the purpose of receiving a briefing on the litigation matter of U.S. Department of Justice. City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department, including resolution possibilities", according to an email from city officials. 

The decree will mandate "sweeping police reforms," according to the Star Tribune, which adds that advocates hope to pass the decree before former President Donald Trump's return to the White House on Jan. 20. Trump's administration has denounced such reforms in the past, saying they are part of a "war on police." 

Minneapolis Police Department reform

The backstory: This follows a separate consent decree between the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) requiring the police department and city to make "transformational" changes in the interest of public safety that a judge approved in 2023.

READ MORE: Court approves consent decree requiring Minneapolis, MPD to implement changes

City of Minneapolis on future of community policing

Minneapolis city officials outlined plans to move forward with changing policing.

That agreement was based on an investigation which found a "pattern or practice of race discrimination," which violates the state's civil rights laws. 

The MDHR and city filed the court-enforceable agreement in March 2023, which was approved by Hennepin County Judge Karen Janisch in court on July 13, 2023.

The agreement legally requires the City of Minneapolis and MPD to implement transformational changes in addressing discriminatory, race-based policing in order to strengthen public safety.

The Source: The Minnesota Star Tribune and past FOX 9 reporting. 

MinneapolisJacob FreyMinneapolis City CouncilMinneapolis Police DepartmentDeath of George Floyd