MN Human Rights investigation finds Mpls, MPD engaged in “pattern of race discrimination”

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights today released the findings of its investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero said in a press conference today that “after completing this extensive investigation the Minnesota Department of Human Rights finds that the city and Minneapolis Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of race discrimination and violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.” Lucero says examples of “discriminatory, race-based policing” in the report include racial disparities in how MPD officers use force, stop, search, arrest, and cite people of color. Lucero said, “leadership is critical to bringing about organizational change and an address race-based policing throughout our investigation former and current city and MPD leaders all acknowledged that there was a problem with MPDS organizational culture and that they knew that it was resulting in racial disparities.” Lucero acknowledged that “every police department uses force, but officers should not use more severe force against black people. In fact, it’s discriminatory and unlawful to do so. And our findings show that in Minneapolis MPD officers use more severe force against black people than white people in similar circumstances.” The investigation was announced after former MPD officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd in May 2020. The Human Rights Department looked at the last 10 years of practices, policies and procedures within MPD.