Reduce the number of police shootings of suspects in Minnesota — that’s the assignment of a working group convened by top state officials. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison says, “We cannot keep going from crisis to crisis to crisis. We’ve got to take a look at this and figure out what we’re going to do together.” Ellison says every part of Minnesota will be included because officer-involved shootings occur all over the state. The working group will have public hearings in August, September and October. State Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington says the group will report to the legislature, plus recommendations will also go out to law enforcement agencies as a guideline for best practices.
Among those on the panel is Clarence Castille, whose nephew Philando Castile was fatally shot by an officer who was later acquitted of manslaughter.
Castile says, “The community and cops working together, rebuilding trust and legitimacy, that’s what we have to do. And I’m… honored to be a part of this.”