4/22/21 Three Investigations Aim to Get to the Bottom of Minneapolis' Policing Problem

“Yesterday's verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis," Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wednesday as he announced a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into Minneapolis' police practices.

The two big questions: Do Minneapolis police typically use excessive force? The investigation will take a look-see with a microscope to the department's policies, training, supervision, and responses to use-of-force incidents. Secondly, are their dealings with "behavioral health disabilities" done legally? For that question, federal civil rights experts are teaming up with Minnesota's U.S. Attorney's Office. That investigation is already under way.

A third question is whether George Floyd's death was a violation of his civil rights, i.e. the right to life. Bill Barr, former U.S. Attorney General, started that investigation. It languished late in the Trump administration, but was revived in Biden's. Reportedly, the investigation had new witnesses and, in February, impaneled a grand jury to hear them.

If the investigation finds a "a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing," it will issue a public report, Garland said. The agency also has the authority to bring a civil lawsuit compelling MPD to change its policies.

So far, both a civil and criminal case have concluded in the wake of Floyd's death, although Chauvin's sentencing is yet to occur. As we are all aware by now, ex-policeman Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murder 2, murder 3 and manslaughter 2. In the civil case, the Minneapolis City Council unanimously awarded $27 million to the Floyd family over George Floyd's death.

What do you think Garland will find in the investigation into Minneapolis' user of force habits? Do you think he'll come up with a set of rules to be imposed on police nationwide? Could the behavioral health question lead, say, to police departments adding social workers to their staffs? https://www.axios.com/justice-department-minneapolis-policing-24e2d694-739f-400d-87a8-54a8b6975308.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=politics-minneapolispolice&fbclid=IwAR1v1GBghUVnLvZX_InVOG992oolDZaIgzz8OtaLzx_Lvi2jI6_PboU7WVI