Minneapolis City Council moves forward with 'Public Safety' mode of law enforcement

By Harry Colbert, Jr., editor-in-chief

David Pierini, staff reporter

A Minneapolis police officer points a gun that shoots rubber bullets at a group of protesters outside of the Third Precinct headquarters during the second day of uprising following the police killing of George Floyd, 46, unarmed and handcuffed at the time of his death. Photo by David Pierini

 In a historic moment, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously voted to eliminate the police department from the city's charter. 

 The Friday (June 26) vote is another step in further reimagining policing in a city that has made international headlines numerous times for police killing unarmed civilians. The most recent and most notable example was the May 25 killing of George Floyd, 46, killed while unarmed and handcuffed; choked by now former officer Derrick Chauvin with the aid of three other now former Minneapolis police officers. The council’s vote opens the door for a public vote on the proposed charter amendment. If the charter commission approves the measure the question would appear on the November ballot. 

 Ward 4 Councilperson Philipe Cunningham said abolishing the police department is welcomed by most of the residents he serves.

 “I have heard overwhelmingly from my constituents in North Minneapolis that want to see some sort of structural and systemic change to the police department, even if we don't know necessarily what the specifics are,” said Cunningham. “The work that is ahead of us is to dig into those specifics with community.”

 Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the council’s vote is a mistake and says the decision lacks clarity. 

“I have serious concerns with the charter amendment proposed today. There are critical questions that demand answers,” said Frey in a statement. “It’s still unclear whether we’re asking voters to abolish the police, or if this proposal includes officers. Under this proposal is Chief (Medaria) Arradondo still in charge of public safety? Or would he be demoted and answer to 14 different officials? If there are still police, how will this proposal help move us towards deep, structural reform? How would renaming or rebranding policing advance those reforms?”

Ward 5 Councilperson Jeremiah Ellison said the path forward is quite clear.

 “I’m gonna be frank, I think there's not a lack of clarity here. I think the council has been clear. I think that the mayor, if I'm being frank, has decided that it is in his best interest to generate a lack of clarity,” said Ellison during a televised press conference. “But the truth is that he (Frey) understands how the charter works and how the charter is written, and that a lot of the details of any department can be written in ordinance, and frequently are.”

 Frey said the council’s vote fails to address police accountability in the city. 

“The one thing we do know; this deals a blow to accountability for policing in our city. Presently our residents know who to hold accountable – the mayor, for better or worse. This proposal sets the stage for finger-pointing in times of crisis and confusion at the ballot box,” said Frey. “We need change, but our residents also need clarity from their elected leaders and a viable path forward. I favor full-scale public safety transformation and a complete culture shift within our police department. Let’s be clear in both purpose and intention. Let’s move that hard work forward together.”

 Ellison said the moment calls for swift action.

“We are not missing any opportunity to refine this department,” said Ellison. “You (Frey)  asked about this quote unquote colloquialism of (13) bosses (the mayor and council). The truth is that the city structure for every other department, with the exception of the current police department is the mayor, as the executive and the council, as the legislative. This would give council legislative authority.”

If approved, the change to the charter would read: “(a) Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention. The City Council must establish, maintain, adequately fund, and consistently engage the public about a department of community safety and violence prevention, which will have responsibility for public safety services prioritizing a holistic, public health-oriented approach.

“(1) Director of Community Safety and Violence Prevention Department. The Mayor nominates and the City Council appoints a director of the department of community safety and violence prevention under section 8.4(b). Individuals eligible to be appointed as director will have non-law enforcement experience in community safety services, including but not limited to public health and/or restorative justice approaches.

“(b) Division of Law Enforcement Services. The Council may maintain a division of law enforcement services, composed of licensed peace officers, subject to the supervision of the department of community safety and violence prevention.

“(1) Director of Law Enforcement Services Division. The director of the department of community safety and violence prevention shall appoint the director of the division of law enforcement services, subject to confirmation by official act of the City Council and Mayor.”

Many are praising the council’s decision to reimagine public safety in Minneapolis. 

“We saw all 12 City Council members vote to cut the police department out of our City’s charter,” said Miski Noor of the organization Black Visions. “Young Black and Brown people in the streets made this happen. Black organizers demanding abolition for generations made this happen. Now, on this new terrain, Minneapolis can start practicing a new vision of safety that defends Black lives. While the amendment that passed wasn’t perfect, we are closer than any time in history, and anywhere else in the country, to a safe, thriving city without police.”