Minneapolis Police Department’s second state-mandated reform meeting focuses on detentions, searches and arrests

MINNEAPOLIS – Members of the community gave their views on policing in Minnesota’s largest city on Tuesday.

They met in Minneapolis to tell the city’s police department how they believe officers should stop, search, and arrest people. It is the second state-mandated meeting to reform the department.

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Several people spoke about the racial disparity of who has been held back. The study found that MPD officers were more likely to stop vehicles carrying people of color.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara and Cmdr. Yolanda Wilks, who oversees the implementation of changesspoke to the group first and said the goal of all of this is to get better outcomes for officers and people they interact with in the community.

They discussed concepts of possible policy changes, things like cops telling someone they were stopped, who they were and why they were stopped.

WCCO spoke to people who shared their own experiences and expressed their views on the proposed changes.

“To be stopped and not told why you are being stopped, that matters a lot,” said resident Michael Powell.

“There has to be a balance between not standing aside for little things, like something hanging in your window or the lights off, but being able to enforce actual laws that could potentially harm or kill someone,” says resident Buzzy Bohn.

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“The sessions feel productive at times, but it feels like we’re spinning our wheels because the only reason we’re here is because the MDHR told us to be,” says resident Toussaint Morrison.

WCCO spoke with Chief O’Hara and Commander. Wilks, who said they have already applied feedback to improve the sessions and are committed to making real change and going beyond what is necessary.

There are two more sessions on this topic, which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

Click here for more information about the community engagement sessions.

Click here to learn more about the Minnesota Department of Human Rights findings on MPD.

Click here to view MPD’s timeline for the implementation of the Consent Decision.