Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is proposing a permanent ban on no-knock warrants. Under the policy, police would even be prohibited from applying for such a warrant.
"This is really an opportunity to be a leader nationwide," Mayor Frey told reporters Monday. "We want to do this right. The implementation of this policy, and the added layers of accountability are really critical steps toward rebuilding trust and then ultimately moving our city forward."
The controversial police practice of no-knock warrants was put into the spotlight once again after a Minneapolis police officer shot and killed Amir Locke in February. Locke, 22, was shot and killed just seconds after a Minneapolis SWAT team entered the apartment he was sleeping in.
Mayor Frey issued a moratorium on no-knock warrants in the days following Locke's death, but this new policy would be permanent.
The policy change would also require police to wait a set time from entering after they knock on the door and announce their presence for regular search warrants; 20 seconds in the day time, and 30 seconds during the night.
Frey says there will still be exemptions for certain cases such as one involving a hostage, or for an active domestic violence situation.
It is expected to take two to three weeks to get the policy finalized.