The City of Minneapolis announcing its Office of Police Conduct Review has cleared a backlog of complaints dating back to May of 2024.
234 cases have now been cleared in what they city called its historic backlog of complaints against Minneapolis Police officers.
The number of cases has grown since 2020, when the city faced staffing challenges making matters worse after the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests, unrest and riots that took place across the city.
In the past 16 months, there has been a focused effort to finish the work with more staff available and a structural change in the way it investigates cases according to Kaela McConnon Diarra who is interim Director of the City Right's Departments.
"This is really a monumental accomplishment of folks just being able to put their head down and really prioritize and do the work and have the support to be able to do that," she tells WCCO Radio.
She did not say, however, how many officers have been disciplined as a result, and says it is creating more meaningful, transparent oversight and accountability for Minneapolis police.
"What it really means is that we're able to move past these backlog cases, the investigative work of these backlog cases, and prioritize more recent complaints that are coming in," McConnon Diarra explains.
The City did add 12 staff members, and restructured the investigation process in order to work through the cases.
"It's really important that community is able to trust that when they make a complaint with us that they'll get an efficient, professional and effective investigation into that complaint," says McConnon Diarra. "So, our ability to be responsive in a timely manner is really key."
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey celebrated the end of the backlog, saying it shows the city is "making good on its commitment to a police oversight system that is transparent, responsive and worthy of the people it serves.”