The Minneapolis City Council is looking at streamlining it's approach to police reform by merging it's federal and state requirements.
That would mean modifying the city's current legal settlement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights to include some of the 400 proposed provisions under the recently dismissed federal consent decree.
Council member Robin Wonsley is leading the charge for the change.
"And regardless of what the Trump administration decides to do regarding the consent decree, the City Council is committed to the deep systemic changes that were negotiated with the Biden Department of Justice."
A federal judge today granted the United States’ motion to dismiss its consent decree against the City of Minneapolis on May 27. The original federal consent decrees between the Biden Administration's Justice Department with Minneapolis and also Louisville called for an overhaul of their police departments following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Those killings became the catalyst for nationwide racial injustice protests in the summer of 2020.
Wonsley added that this would just be the first step in making this proposal a reality. Wonsley adds it's the only way forward for the city.
"I've heard from many residents that empty words and promises can no longer be the city's response as it relates to police reform," Wonsley explains. "And for decades, city leaders have broken those promises to our residents. This is why me and my colleagues are bringing this action forward because it's intended to show that this council is committed to not repeat this pattern."
A vote on the proposal has been postponed until June 16.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara has also said the department plans to continue forward with reform measures despite the dismissal from the Department of Justice.