Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigned Tuesday, May 26, after an investigation found he had interfered with a probe into his own conduct by deleting a contact from his city-issued phone to shield evidence from investigators.
MPD
Posted inNews
ICE kills US citizen in south Minneapolis, drawing outrage from community and leaders
A United States citizen was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in south Minneapolis the morning of Jan. 7, igniting widespread outrage and renewed demands from city and state leaders for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave Minnesota. The shooting occurred near the intersection of 34th Street and Portland Avenue after ICE agents arrived […]
Posted inLocal & State
MPD accused of hiding lethal incompetence
Davis Moturi is alive to tell his story. Allison Lussier, an Indigenous woman, and Mariah Samuels, a Black woman, are not. The pattern is tragically familiar: people of color repeatedly calling 911, warning police about violent neighbors or ex-partners, doing everything authorities ask, only to be met with inaction. Lussier and Samuels were killed this […]
Posted inLocal & State
Families say MPD fails to protect women of color
Under gray skies on the afternoon of Oct. 30, relatives of two women, one Black, one Indigenous, gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center accusing Minneapolis police and city officials of failing to protect women of color from domestic violence. The families came seeking justice for Mariah Samuels, a 30-year-old African American mother who was […]
Posted inLocal & State
MPD domestic violence unit understaffed
With no High Risk Team, more deaths likely Hennepin County District 2 Commissioner Irene Fernando said the city failed to assign an investigator to the domestic violence case of Mariah Samuels before her death, despite internal claims that one had been appointed. “The letter says that an investigator was assigned,” Fernando said at a press […]
Posted inPhoto Galleries
Protest at Minneapolis City Hall Condemns Officer’s Promotion in Amir Locke Killing
A protest at Minneapolis City Hall on July 22 condemned MPD’s promotion of Sgt. Mark Hanneman, who fatally shot Amir Locke during a 2022 no-knock raid. Activists and community leaders say the decision erodes public trust and demands urgent accountability.
Posted inLocal & State
Federal judge dismisses MPD consent decree
A federal judge dismissed the MPD federal consent decree, halting federal oversight of police reforms. Minneapolis officials say they will continue with the full slate of reforms despite the ruling.
Posted inLocal & State
Sen. Smith decries fed’s withdrawal from MPD oversight
Sen. Tina Smith is condemning the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the MPD federal consent decree, which was intended to drive reforms following the DOJ’s investigation into civil rights violations. Smith calls the move a betrayal of justice.
Posted inLocal & State
MSR-hosted event honored George Floyd’s legacy
Marking five years since George Floyd’s murder, MSR hosted a moving event with community leaders, artists, and activists reflecting on justice, grief, and what comes next.
Posted inEvents
Five Years After the Murder of George Floyd: A Look at the Past and Where Do We Go from Here?
Five years after the murder of George Floyd, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is hosting a powerful community event on May 21 with leaders in law enforcement, civil rights, and education to reflect on progress, accountability, and the road ahead.
Posted inLocal & State
Conflicting priorities hamstring Mpls violence prevention
The Minneapolis City Council has approved funding for five organizations to provide violence prevention services in different neighborhoods, but concerns remain about staffing cuts and contract transparency.
Posted inNational
Elon Musk Weighs In on Derek Chauvin Pardon Proposal from Ben Shapiro
Elon Musk and conservative commentator Ben Shapiro have expressed support for pardoning Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of killing George Floyd, sparking a debate about the case and its implications on racial justice and police accountability.
Posted inNational
Trump Administration Shuts Down Police Misconduct Database as Killings Soar
The Trump administration has shut down the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), the only federal resource for tracking police misconduct, despite the rising number of police-related deaths and systemic injustices faced by Black Americans.
Posted inOpinion
The hidden costs of police recruitment
The hiring and retention of police officers with questionable track records is a complex issue, with factors such as low hiring standards, lack of accountability, and psychological and sociological factors contributing to the problem.
Posted inLocal & State
Minneapolis Police reform effort awaits judge’s approval
The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey have approved a federal settlement to reform the Minneapolis Police Department, which includes the use of body-worn cameras and increased community involvement in the police reform process.
Posted inLocal & State
Consent decrees no panacea for police reform
Minneapolis is the first city to agree to police reform settlements under both state and federal jurisdictions, with a compliance report due by March 17, and has selected the nonprofit Effective Law Enforcement For All (EFLEFA) as an independent review board to ensure compliance.
Posted inLocal & State
Former Officer in George Floyd’s Murder Set for Release from Prison
J. Alexander Kueng, one of the former Minneapolis police officers involved in George Floyd’s killing, is set to be released from federal prison in January 2025, after serving a 3 ½ year sentence on state charges and a 3 year sentence on federal charges.
Posted inLocal & State
Minneapolis Police Pledges reform while trying to rebuild trust with communities of color
The Minneapolis Police Department is working to rebuild community trust and implement new policies to reduce harmful interactions with residents, as part of a consent decree with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, while facing skepticism from community leaders and ongoing issues with crime and policing trends.
Posted inLocal & State
City, DOJ agree to police reforms
The Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to enter into a sweeping agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to overhaul racist policing practices, with the final terms resulting from a DOJ investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.
Posted inLocal & State
Minneapolis Faces Rising Homicide Rates Amid National Decline
Minneapolis is an outlier in the national homicide rate, with 76 reported in 2024, three times the national average, due to the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, economic issues, and educational disruptions.