Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Crime, Law and Justice
Kathryn Styer Martinez

Petition to replace MPD submitted to Minneapolis city officials

A person buts another box on top of a stack.
Munira Mohamed of the ACLU of Minnesota stacks boxes of petitions being delivered to the Minneapolis City Clerk inside of the City Hall on Friday.
Evan Frost | MPR News

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

A group delivered more than 20,000 signatures to the Minneapolis City Hall on Friday as part of an effort to replace the city's Police Department with a new Department of Public Safety.

The coalition Yes 4 Minneapolis is trying to get a measure on the ballot this fall that would strike a section of the Minneapolis City Charter requiring the police department be the only option for public safety, and create a new Public Safety Department.

The petition was received by the city clerk and election administrator.

7 of 7
A statue looks at a stack of boxes.
Father of Waters, the large granite scultpture in the lobby of Minneapolis City Hall, gazes upon more than 20,000 petition signatures in support of a charter amendment to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety on Friday.
Evan Frost | MPR News
1 of 7
A statue sits behind a stack of boxes as a man removes one.
Minneapolis City Clerk Casey Carl starts to break down a stack of boxes containing more than 20,000 petition signatures calling for a charter amendment replacing the Minneapolis Police Department with a Department of Public Safety in Minneapolis on Friday.
Evan Frost | MPR News
2 of 7
People hold boxes in the air for a photo.
Members of groups making up the Yes 4 Minneapolis coalition hold boxes of petition signatures in the air for a photograph before delivering the signatures to the city clerk on Friday.
Evan Frost | MPR News

Corenia Smith, Yes 4 Minneapolis’ campaign manager, said the changes would remove police from the city's charter.

“We are changing the charter to replace language passed by voters 60 years ago, to create a new Department of Public Safety. It is 2021. It is not 1961,” Smith said.

The petition by Yes 4 Minneapolis, a coalition of groups including Black Visions and Reclaim the Block, is one of three ballot initiatives aimed at reforming public safety. A separate effort has been proposed by members of the City Council.

The petition will be presented to the city's Charter Commission Wednesday. It will then immediately return to the city clerk, who will begin validating signatures. If there are enough valid signatures, results will be presented to the City Council on May 17.