The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) says it’s putting a major focus on fixing the broken systems that have hurt communities of color for years, as it works to bring new officers — especially officers of color — into its ranks.
Police Chief Brian O’Hara, reflecting on the challenges of recent years, acknowledged that the department is still in recovery mode following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, which led to a mass departure of officers. Now, with a new year ahead, O’Hara says rebuilding community trust is at the heart of the department’s goals.
In 2025, MPD will implement new policies around the use of force as part of a legally binding agreement, known as a consent decree, with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. O’Hara says these reforms include better de-escalation training to reduce harmful interactions with residents, particularly Black and Native people who have been disproportionately affected by police violence.
“I think the city itself is starting to heal,” O’Hara said. “We’re healing from the trauma of 2020 and from years of violence and crime.”
But some community leaders remain skeptical.
Communities demand accountability from police
Jae Yates, an organizer with the Twin Cities Coalition 4 Justice, says police still treat Black residents unfairly compared to white community members.
“Officers continue to fail to do their jobs when it comes to protecting Black and Brown people,” Yates said. “The way they respond to us is completely different.”
Cynthia Wilson, president of the Minneapolis chapter of the NAACP, says that while she’s seen some small steps in the right direction, meaningful change won’t happen overnight.
“It takes time to change,” Wilson said. “But I think Chief O’Hara’s focus on humanity is a good step. We need police to treat us with dignity.”
Why reform is happening now
The push for reform is part of a consent decree with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which found in 2022 that Minneapolis police routinely violated the civil rights of residents, especially Black and Indigenous people.
The agreement requires the department to make several changes, including new policies on de-escalation, arrests, and the use of weapons like Tasers and batons. Minneapolis recently finalized a second consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice after another investigation found widespread racial discrimination by police.
These agreements are meant to hold MPD accountable, but some say progress has been slow.
Same problems, different year?
Yates isn’t convinced much has changed since Floyd’s murder. Black communities still mistrust the police, he said, especially after incidents like the recent shooting of Davis Moturi, a Black man, by his white neighbor, John Sawchak.
Despite the shooting, police waited several days to arrest Sawchak, sparking outrage from community members.
“The way police handled that situation tells us everything we need to know about how they view Black lives,” Yates said. “We need real accountability.”
Wilson, however, sees signs of progress. The Minneapolis NAACP is working with the police on a new initiative to address neighborhood conflicts and give officers training on how to mediate disputes.
“For Chief O’Hara to partner with us on that shows he’s serious about change,” Wilson said.
Crime and policing trends
Violent crime, including robberies and homicides, continues to be a major issue in Minneapolis. The city saw more murders in 2024 than the year before, with 85 homicides reported by mid-December.
Some of that violence has happened near homeless encampments, which the city has been shutting down. O’Hara says safety concerns prompted those evictions, but Yates argues that removing camps only makes things worse for vulnerable residents, particularly Indigenous people.
“This is taxpayer money being wasted to destroy the belongings of people who are already struggling,” Yates said. “We need solutions, not more harm.”
A push for more officers, diversity
O’Hara says MPD is still short-staffed, with only 558 officers on the force. The department is budgeted for 731 officers and plans to recruit more in 2025, with a focus on hiring people of color.
In 2024, MPD made history by swearing in its first Somali American female officer and its first officer who isn’t a U.S. citizen. The department has also changed its uniform policy to allow hijabs and headscarves, a move that leaders say could help bring in more officers from diverse backgrounds.
Still, O’Hara admits that rebuilding won’t be easy.
“The department was in a bad place when I got here,” he said. “People were demoralized, and communities were hurting. We’re working to change that, but it’s going to take time.”
The question remains: Can the Minneapolis Police Department earn back the trust of the city’s Black and Brown residents — and can it ever repair the harm it’s done?