For the first time since the Minneapolis City Council announced plans to dismantle the police department, the chief of police is speaking out about the death of George Floyd, the aftermath, and his plans for change
George Floyd's killing sparked protests, demonstrations and rioting in the Twin Cities and the beyond. Now, Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo is responding to how he handled the un-rest and his initial plan for change.
"I am immediately withdrawing from the contract negotiations with the Minneapolis Police Federation. I plan to bring in subject matter experience and advisers to conduct a thorough review of how the contract can be restructured to provide greater community transparency and more flexibility for true reform."
The second part of his initial effort also includes changes.
"I am immediately withdrawing from the contract negotiations with the Minneapolis Police Federation. I plan to bring in subject matter experience and advisers to conduct a thorough review of how the contract can be restructured to provide greater community transparency and more flexibility for true reform"
He told reporters that history is being written now and he wants to be on the right side of it.
"I think that it's very clear that we have to evolve. I think that the traditional process in terms of the union contract, um, probably antiquated and are not meeting the needs of all vested stakeholders and as chief, I think now is the time to step away from that and start anew."
He shared what it was like for him, watching the video
"I have struggled when I watched that video. I did not see humanity. I did not see humanity."
He explained his actions in response to the demonstrations and rioting that followed Floyd's death, saying there wasn't a "playbook" to follow and his main goal was to protect human life. Arradondo is the city's first African American police chief and has himself felt discrimination in his own department.
"Race is inextricably a part of the American policing system. We will never evolve in this profession if we do not address it head-on."
