DOJ accuses Minneapolis Police of engaging in dangerous tactics and violating rights

A Department of Justice report revealed that Minneapolis police have patterns of unconstitutional rights-violating conduct and discrimination against blacks and Native Americans.

The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and the Minnesota District Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office conducted an investigation following the murder of George Floyd.

After two years, the study concluded that there are "systemic problems" on the part of Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) officers that include the frequent use of excessive force and, in many cases, "unjustified deadly force."

"For years, MPD used dangerous techniques and weapons against people who committed at most a petty offense and sometimes no offense at all," the report states, highlighting that about 75% of the uses of force that were recorded by the Minneapolis Police Department "did not involve an associated violent crime or a weapons offense."

The investigation also revealed that the department used force to punish people who criticized or angered the police. The report also pointed out that when they patrolled neighborhoods, it was done "according to their racial composition," searching, handcuffing, or using force based on race. It also pointed out that authorities often ignored the safety of people in custody.

The Department of Justice explained that to reach these conclusions, they had to review documents, body camera recordings, analysis of city data, and talk to officers and residents.

Following the results of the investigation, Police Chief Brian O'Hara asserted that the department is committed to improvement. While the report acknowledged that the city has begun working to change some practices, investigators insisted on following through on recommendations that include nearly 30 corrective actions and improvements.