Minneapolis commission expected to approve proposal to replace police department with public safety department

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A majority in a Minneapolis commission is expected to support a City Council proposal Wednesday to dismantle the city’s Police Department and replace it with a new “Department of Community Safety and Violence Prevention,” the Washington Times reports. If the amendment proceeds to a ballot in November, voters will be given the last word. The proposal follows the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

Made up of 15 volunteers, the commission can not only approve or reject the proposal, but can also ask for more time to review it. According to the Washington Times, the Council can override a rejection but a request for more time would make it impossible for the proposal to be put to the ballot by November.

Supporters of the amendment reportedly point to the police department’s troubled history and note that it has been resistant to change. A more “holistic,” public health-oriented approach to public safety would be a preferable alternative, supporters say.

However, some commission members are reportedly concerned the process of finding an alternative to the police department is going too fast, especially in light of the riots and violence that overtook the city after Floyd’s death. Moreover, residents themselves are said to be concerned about doing away with the police department altogether.

The proposed new department would still have armed police officers, but they would answer to a director with “non-law enforcement experience in community safety services.” The new department would prioritize public health. A number of City Council members have reportedly said there will be a vigorous process to obtain public feedback on how the new department should look and operate.

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