Minneapolis Police Department Engaged in “Systemic” Violations of Civil Rights and Excessive Force, DOJ Report Finds
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a scathing report into the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), concluding that the department engaged in “systemic” violations of civil rights and excessive force. The report details abuses against Black residents long before the May 2020 killing of George Floyd captured the world’s attention.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland shared the results of the investigation on Friday, stating that the review focused on MPD as a whole, not on the actions of any individual officer. While Garland acknowledged that many MPD officers did their difficult work with professionalism, courage, and respect, he noted that the patterns and practices observed made what happened to George Floyd possible.
Excessive Use of Force and Civil Rights Violations
Garland detailed a litany of alleged abusive practices within the department, including excessive use of force, violation of civil rights, discrimination against Black and Native American residents, and targeting people engaged in journalistic and political activities.
Years before officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for more than nine minutes, Garland said the officer had used excessive force in other instances, and other officers had failed to intervene. The report also found that discrimination against Black and Native Americans included the use of excessive force during traffic stops.
Discrimination Against Black and Native Americans
“The data showed, for example, that MPD stopped Black and Native American people nearly six times more often than white people in situations that did not result in arrests or citation,” Garland said. The DOJ also found several disturbing instances of racist abuse that went unpunished by the department, including one incident in which an officer told a group of Somali teenagers: “Do you remember what happened in Black Hawk Down when we killed a bunch of your folk? I’m proud of that. We didn’t finish the job over there. If we had, you guys wouldn’t be over here right now.”
Abuses Against People Involved in “Protected Speech”
Garland also said the department engaged in abuses against people involved in “protected speech,” such as protesters and members of the media. The report found that the department had targeted people engaged in journalistic and political activities and had used force against peaceful protesters.
Consent Decree to Address Problems
Garland said the department has agreed in principle to a consent decree that would mandate changes to the department to address the problems detailed in the report. The decree would require the department to implement new policies and training, improve accountability and oversight, and establish a community engagement program.
Conclusion
The DOJ’s investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department has revealed systemic violations of civil rights and excessive force. The report details abusive practices within the department, including discrimination against Black and Native American residents, targeting people involved in “protected speech,” and excessive use of force. The department has agreed in principle to a consent decree that would mandate changes to address the problems detailed in the report. The findings of the investigation underscore the urgent need for police reform and accountability in the United States.