Decade of Policies, Procedures at Minneapolis Police Department Under Investigation, Minnesota Governor Announces

Governor Tim Walz said Tuesday the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) was launching an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. The investigation will look into the last 10 years of the department's "policies, procedures and practices," Walz said in a news release.

The announcement was made eight days after George Floyd, a black man, died while in police custody in Minneapolis. In reaction to his death, protesters gathered across the U.S. in what quickly became one of the largest collections of civil rights demonstrations in recent memory.

"George Floyd should be alive," MDHR Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said in a news release. "Community leaders have been asking for structural change for decades. They have fought for this and it is essential that we acknowledge the work and commitment of those who have paved the path to make today's announcement possible."

Within a day of Floyd's death, four Minneapolis police officers were fired in connection with the incident. One of the officers, Derek Chauvin, has since been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter. Despite the charges, a lawyer representing Floyd's family said Chauvin had interacted with Floyd previously and called for first-degree murder charges to be introduced in the case.

The MDHR on Monday filed a discrimination charge against the City of Minneapolis Police Department. In the document, Lucero said Floyd's death and other similar incidents "required investigation" to determine whether "race-based policing" was in practice within the department.

"I believe there is sufficient information to investigate whether the respondent utilizes systemic discriminatory patterns or practices towards people of color, specifically Black community members, on the basis of race and in the area of public services," the document said.

Though Floyd's death appeared to be the final tipping point that launched the investigation, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan said the protests that began in response to the incident did not happen "in a vacuum."

According to a report published by NBC News on Monday, records showed Minneapolis police had used neck restraints to subdue people more than 200 times since 2015. Of those incidents, 44 resulted in loss of consciousness, the report showed.

During a news conference Tuesday, Flanagan said if state leaders did not act immediately, "I don't see how we can move forward as a state at all. This is the time. This is the moment," she said.

Walz and Flanagan called upon Minnesota residents to share details on incidents involving Minneapolis police officers that may contribute to the MDHR investigation and said it would take community involvement to bring about the change they said was necessary.

"It is going to take action at all levels from the neighborhood on up, to get the change we need to see," Walz said in the news release.

"If you have information, if you have had an experience that you believe is important to this investigation, please visit the Department of Human Rights website or call them," Flanagan said.

In a statement to Newsweek, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo said, "The sworn and civilian members of the Minneapolis Police Department remain steadfast in recognizing that service is honorable, and it requires building genuine and authentic relationships with all communities."

Arradondo continued, "The authority given to us by the community comes with great responsibility and obligation to always have their best interest at heart. With the assistance of the State Human Rights Commission, we can take an honest examination at systemic barriers that have prevented us from reaching our greatest potential for those we serve."

This article has been updated to include a statement from the Minneapolis Police Department.