Minneapolis Pledges Enhanced Police Oversight After George Floyd Investigation

On Monday, Minneapolis committed to implement comprehensive reforms within its police department and agreed to outside oversight following a federal investigation that highlighted a pattern of civil rights violations, ignited by the 2020 death of George Floyd.

The city reached a legally enforceable agreement, known as a consent decree, with the U.S. Justice Department that involves enlisting an independent monitor to assess and report on the city’s reform efforts.

The city council unanimously voted 12–0 to endorse this agreement, as confirmed by both the city clerk and a spokesperson for the Justice Department.

This agreement, which still requires approval from a federal judge, solidifies the plan for police reforms in Minneapolis.

George Floyd died due to former police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck.

“All eyes are on Minneapolis, and with this consent decree, we now have a blueprint for reform that will aid in community healing,” said Kristen Clarke, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, during a press briefing.

The consent decree mandates that Minneapolis restrict the use of force by its officers and ensure that medical assistance is promptly provided to individuals injured during police encounters. Additionally, it instructs officers to refrain from using handcuffs on children under the age of 14 and imposes limitations on certain police actions during protests.

A group of civilian experts is already overseeing the Minneapolis police following a settlement in 2023, and this same group will ensure compliance with the federal decree, according to Clarke.

The Justice Department’s investigation, which wrapped up in 2023, revealed that the Minneapolis police frequently used excessive force and discriminated against Black individuals and Native Americans.

This investigation, referred to as a “pattern-or-practice” investigation, was distinct from the criminal cases against four Minneapolis police officers, including Chauvin, who faced convictions for infringing upon Floyd’s civil rights.

Chauvin received a sentence of over 20 years in federal prison and was also convicted on state murder charges.

Pattern-or-practice investigations, which assess an entire department’s practices, often culminate in consent decrees—court-mandated agreements that enforce reforms and typically require years of external oversight.

Minneapolis stands as the second U.S. city to establish such an agreement as a result of an investigation initiated by the Biden Justice Department, despite the initiation of a dozen police investigations nationwide over the past four years.

Louisville, Kentucky, also reached an agreement with the Justice Department last month.

Other cities, including Phoenix, have resisted external scrutiny and contested the Justice Department’s findings. Several investigations have just recently concluded, leaving scant time to finalize court agreements prior to the Biden administration’s conclusion on January 20.

During his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to enhance legal protections for police. His administration curtailed the use of pattern-or-practice investigations and sought to challenge existing court agreements, perceiving them as excessive burdens on police departments.