Minneapolis, MN – The Minneapolis City Council is slated to vote Monday on a consent decree agreement with the federal government, stemming from the 2020 murder of George Floyd. The agreement mandates significant police reforms and places the department under long-term federal oversight.
The proposed reforms follow a scathing 2023 Department of Justice report, which detailed alleged systemic discrimination and constitutional rights violations by Minneapolis police. The report, a result of a two-year investigation, cited excessive force, including unjustified deadly force, and violations of protected speech. This echoes previous findings from a 2022 investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which also highlighted decades-long patterns of racial discrimination within the department.
The consent decree, if approved, would require the city and police to meet specific benchmarks under an independent federal monitor. This process is expected to be lengthy and costly. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has advocated for the agreement as a crucial step toward healing.
This potential agreement comes amidst a broader national reckoning with police brutality and racial injustice. The Department of Justice has initiated similar investigations and secured consent decrees in other cities, including Seattle, New Orleans, and Baltimore. These agreements often require significant financial investments and extended periods of federal monitoring.
The timing of a potential vote is significant. The agreement, if finalized before President Trump's return to office in January, would limit potential challenges to the reforms.
The council will meet in closed session Monday morning and is expected to vote publicly in the afternoon. The outcome will determine whether the city and its police department will be subject to both a state and federal consent decree, a rare occurrence.
