ACLU Demands Changes in Policy, Training at the Minneapolis PD

The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that interim police chief Medaria Arradondo make numerous policy, procedure, and training changes at the Minneapolis PD.

In a statement Teresa Nelson, interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, referenced the fatal Minneapolis police shootings of Justine Damond and Jamar Clark. Damond was shot and killed last week by an officer responding to her 911 call. An investigation is in progress. Clark was killed by officers during a gun grab attack . The incident led to rioting in the Twin Cities. Both officers involved were cleared in the shooting.

“Minneapolis' new interim police chief, Medaria (Rondo) Arradondo, is taking over as chief at a critical time. The department has long struggled with overuse of force, exemplified by the recent shootings of Justine Damond and Jamar Clark, and racial disparities in stops, arrests, and other police work that have caused tensions between communities of color and the police. It is crucial that Arrandondo take swift and immediate action within the Minneapolis Police Department to make the largescale changes needed to build a department that is just, responsive, and truly values the lives it is sworn to serve and protect,” Nelson said in her statement.

ACLU demands include:

• Increased oversight and accountability for officers who violate the department’s use of force policies. Support reforms to ensure the Police Conduct Oversight Commission has the authority to discipline and fire officers as needed.

• Retrain the entire department on use of force.

• Increase training on de-escalation.

• Implement a new body camera policy that mandates activation at the beginning of every interaction with members of the public.

• Include clear, significant discipline for officers who violate the body camera policy.

• Stop prioritizing low-level arrests.

• Increase the department’s accountability by releasing all data on stops and arrests to the public.

• Fully implement the recommendations found in the Police Executive Research Forum’s 30 guiding principles on the use of force and the final report of President Obama’s task force on 21st century policing.