January 6, 2025 update

The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey approved the terms of a federal consent decree with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).

This consent decree supports ongoing police reform efforts in the City. It will continue to strengthen trust and accountability of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). It will also rebuild its relationship with the community it serves.

• The DOJ investigation launched April 21, 2021. That was one day after a jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd.
• On June 16, 2023, the DOJ announced its findings.
• On Jan. 6, 2025, the City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey approved the terms of a court-enforceable consent decree.

See DOJ investigation timeline

News releases

• Read the City's news release
• Read the DOJ news release

Commitment to reform

Since June 2020, Mayor Frey and City leadership have:

• Implemented sweeping reforms in policing
• Invested in a broader community safety ecosystem

The reforms begin to provide Minneapolis residents with safety services that are:

• Comprehensive
• Equitable
• Constitutional

These early actions allow us to build on these reforms to bring lasting change.

The consent decree and the MDHR settlement agreement run at the same time. The City and MPD will work with an independent monitor. They will evaluate progress and work toward full compliance.

Effective date

The City and DOJ will now file the consent decree in federal court. A federal judge must approve the consent decree before it goes into effect.

Read the consent decree

Summary

The DOJ report on June 16, 2023, states that the DOJ has reasonable cause to believe that:

• The City and MPD engage in a pattern or practice of conduct.
• The conduct deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law.

The DOJ found:

• Reasonable cause to believe MPD uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and other types of force.
• Reasonable cause to believe MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black and Native American people in its enforcement activities.
• Reasonable cause to believe MPD violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech.
• Reasonable cause to believe MPD and the City discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance.

The DOJ also found deficiencies in MPD's:

• Accountability systems
• Training
• Supervision
• Officer wellness programs

The DOJ found that these systems contribute to the violation of the Constitutional and federal law.

See the DOJ press release

Road map for change

The City and DOJ have agreed to negotiate toward a court-enforceable consent decree.

About the negotiated consent decree:

• An independent monitor will oversee the process.
• The negotiated consent decree will be legally binding.
• The DOJ has recommended 28 remedial measures to ensure that the City of Minneapolis complies with federal constitutional law.

Separate from State investigation

• This federal investigation is separate and distinct from the investigation conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR).
• MDHR looked at violations of State law. The DOJ investigation looked at violations of federal law.

See court-enforceable settlement agreement