The Minneapolis City Council unanimously voted on Monday to reform its police department in response to systemic abuses, as part of a consent decree agreement with the Department of Justice.
The deal, finalized recently by lawyers from both the Department of Justice and the city, aims to ensure accountability and implement meaningful changes within the police force, particularly in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020. The timing of the agreement was critical, as it needed to be established before the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, who previously opposed consent decrees.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Minneapolis police department is required to enhance tracking and investigations of misconduct allegations, limit the use of force, and improve officer training procedures.
Mayor Jacob Frey emphasized that the agreement reflects community demands for accountability and change, stating that “real accountability and meaningful change” are necessary.
The federal oversight initiated by the Justice Department includes a thorough civil rights investigation followed by a report of findings. Subsequently, cities typically negotiate a consent decree to avoid federal lawsuits.
The initiative for the Minneapolis decree began in the summer of 2023, following a Justice Department report that accused the police department of discrimination against Black and Native American residents, excessive use of deadly force, and violations of the First Amendment rights of protesters and journalists. The police union did not respond to requests for comment regarding the agreement.
City officials and Justice Department lawyers plan to present the agreement to a federal judge for oversight of its implementation.
During Donald Trump's first term, the Justice Department rejected consent decrees, opposing similar agreements in Chicago and Baltimore, and did not pursue new ones. Trump has also expressed support for allowing police to act "extraordinarily rough" during violent incidents.
Minneapolis officials reaffirmed their commitment to enduring changes in the police department, regardless of the Trump administration's stance on consent decrees. Prior to the Justice Department's report, the city had already embarked on a policing overhaul in agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which included prohibiting the use of a specific dangerous tear gas and requiring officers to report colleague misconduct.
The city allocated $27 million in its 2024 and 2025 budgets for reforms associated with ongoing state and federal investigations, in addition to a $27 million settlement paid to Floyd’s family in 2021 for his wrongful death.
Kristen Clarke, the assistant attorney general leading the Justice Department's civil rights division, stated that the agreement provides a comprehensive framework for policing in Minneapolis, marking a significant shift. However, she could not guarantee continued enforcement of the agreement under the incoming Trump administration.
Consent decrees were actively pursued during President Barack Obama's administration, resulting in 15 agreements amid rising public concern over police misconduct. The Biden administration has sought to reinstate these agreements, launching multiple civil rights investigations, yet has been slow to finalize resolutions.
Currently, the Biden administration enforces 15 consent decrees established by prior administrations and has only completed one additional agreement, in Louisville, Kentucky. Clarke noted that the administration has worked diligently to negotiate robust agreements.
These ongoing agreements and investigations will transition to the Trump administration upon his inauguration.