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MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis and Maja Beckstrom

Can new rules for Minneapolis police improve interactions with community?

A person speaks during a news conference
Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero speaks during a press conference announcing the settlement agreement to overhaul Minneapolis police operations on Friday, March 31, 2023, in Minneapolis.
Jon Collins | MPR News

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The Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the city of Minneapolis last month reached an agreement on how to overhaul the Minneapolis Police Department. A lot of hope is riding on the new legally-binding settlement. It marks the first time in Minnesota that a court will enforce specific changes in police operations.  

The agreement aims to reset the culture of the department after the murder of George Floyd. It follows a state investigation into the Minneapolis police that found a pattern of illegal and racist behavior in officers’ behavior.  

It covers a wide range of procedures from traffic stops to how officers use force. For example, officers will no longer be allowed to pull over a driver only for a broken taillight, stop and frisk someone just because they smell of marijuana. And there are new restrictions on when officers can use tear gas or another chemical irritant to control a crowd.   

But will these new requirements be enough to improve the way Minneapolis police officers interact with the people they serve?  

MPR News host Angela Davis talks about what’s in the agreement and whether it will usher in real change.  

four people in a radio studio
MPR News host Angela Davis talks with Giovanni Veliz, Rebecca Lucero and Yohuru Williams about what’s in a new settlement agreement on how to overhaul the MPD and whether it will usher in real change.
Maja Beckstrom | MPR News

Guests: 

  • Rebecca Lucero is the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.  

  • Yohuru Williams is a professor of history and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas.  

  • Giovanni Veliz retired in January 2023 as a commander with the Minneapolis Police Department after serving 30 years.  

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS. 

Correction (April 20, 2023): An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Minneapolis officers can no longer use chemical irritants to control a crowd. Officers can use tear gas and other chemical irritants, but under limited conditions, which include approval from the chief of police or the chief’s designee.