DOJ asks for pause in Minneapolis police federal consent decree
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Since early January, Minneapolis leaders have been waiting for a federal judge to sign off on a consent decree that would hold the police department to court-enforced changes.
That limbo could be extended even further after a Minnesota assistant U.S. attorney and several members of the Department of Justice asked U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson Tuesday to stay the proceeding until March 20. Judge Magnuson granted the request Wednesday.
The move is not out of left field. A few days into his new administration, President Donald Trump’s DOJ leadership issued a memo directing attorneys to provide notice of any court-enforceable agreements to reform police agencies that had been finalized within the last 90 days. The memo said the new administration “may wish to reconsider” such agreements.
The court filing states that the city does not support the motion, however the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis agrees with the request.
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Minneapolis city leaders have publicly supported the consent decree after working with the DOJ to reach an agreement since 2023 — when a federal investigation slammed the police department for patterns of racist policing and unjustifiable use of excessive force.
“From day one, I’ve made it clear the terms outlined in this consent decree will happen — with or without support from the White House,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement last month. “It’s unfortunate the Trump administration may not be interested in cooperating with us to improve policing and support our community, but make no mistake, we have the tools, the resolve, and the community’s backing to fulfill our promise to the people of Minneapolis. Our work will not be stopped.”
The MPD is currently bound by a state settlement agreement that followed an earlier investigation from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. An independent evaluator is monitoring that process as it approaches the end of its first year when a set of changes, including some policy revisions, will be due.
Both state and federal investigations started within a year of the police killing of George Floyd, five years ago this May. The DOJ opened its probe the day after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in Hennepin County court.
