Appoint a special prosecutor to partner with the county attorney in investigations of shootings by police — one key recommendation from a special panel appointed by Governor Mark Dayton after the fatal shootings of Philando Castile and Jamar Clark. Several big issues brought out in community meetings — like reducing power of police unions and appointing totally independent prosecutors — are not addressed in the report. But the governor calls it a “really good” first step. He says, “Some people think they [the panel] should go further, but… [they had] to work to try to achieve a consensus, or at least a general agreement.”
Dayton says there’s obviously not total agreement among members of the panel. “I think they nailed it as far as they could go, and we’ll just have to keep nailing it,” he says.
The panel also recommends more training for police to de-escalate situations and handle mental health emergencies…policies to prevent bias…more officers of color and female officers…and better mental health counseling for police.