DOJ Announces Probe into Minneapolis Department Following Chauvin Trial

US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced that the Justice Department will conduct investigations into patterns and practices of the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department in a press conference on Wednesday. 

According to the Justice Department’s corresponding press release, the investigation will be conducted in accordance with the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994’s Title XXI, which states that the Attorney General may take civil action if they have reasonable cause to believe that conduct of a law enforcement agency “deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.”

If the investigation reveals systemic unlawful or unconstitutional practices by MPD, the Justice Department will issue a public report of their findings and can bring a civil lawsuit against the department.

 Garland said that the investigation has been welcomed by the Minneapolis City Council, mayor, and police chief, and will be reviewing MPD’s training, policies, and supervision, while also assessing possible discriminatory conduct and excessive force used by officers. 

“People throughout the city of Minneapolis want a public safety system that protects and serves all members of our community. This investigation by the Department of Justice provides a vital step to restore and build trust in the Minneapolis Police Department and its officers,” said W. Anders Folk, the Acting US Attorney for the District of Minnesota.

The announcement came one day after the conviction of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis Police Officer who was filmed with his knee on the neck of George Floyd while holding him for arrest on May 25 2020. The viral video sparked protests in the city, which then spread across the world and shined a light on potentially harmful and unlawful police practices in Minneapolis and across the US. 

Garland opened the press conference by acknowledging the previous day’s verdict, and said that this investigation is separate and independent of the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Chauvin’s use of force on George Floyd and on a 14-year-old in 2017, as well as the Minnesota Department of Human Rights probe into MPD policing practices and potentially systemic discrimination. 

“Yesterday’s verdict in the state criminal trial does not address potentially systemic policing issues in Minneapolis,” said Garland. “I know that justice is sometimes slow, sometimes elusive, and sometimes never comes. The Department of Justice will be unwavering in its pursuit of equal justice under law.”

The announcement also comes on the heels of another nationally covered story of the killing of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in nearby Brooklyn Center MN. According to police, Wright was shot by accident while resisting arrest after officers attempted to serve a warrant for his arrest.  

The officer who shot Wright has been charged with 2nd-degree manslaughter.

Justice Department investigations into police departments like this were more frequent under the Obama presidency, but over the past four years the Trump administration and Attorney General William Barr moved away from such probes, even refusing to investigate the MPD in the immediate wake of the George Floyd killing and protests. 

President Joe Biden is reverting back to Obama-era attitude towards police conduct, saying in a press conference on Tuesday that he is focused on delivering real change to law enforcement practices by, “acknowledging and confronting, head on, systemic racism and the racial disparities that exist in policing and in our criminal justice system more broadly.” 

Biden expressed confidence in his Justice Department and AG to address these problems and restore public trust in law enforcement.

“State and local government and law enforcement needs to step up, but so does the federal government.  That’s why I have appointed the leadership at the Justice Department that I have, that is fully committed to restoring trust between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to serve and protect.  I have complete confidence in the Attorney General — General Garland’s leadership and commitment,” said Biden.

Despite Biden’s support, many in the Minneapolis community are not so optimistic about the influence of this investigation. In response to Garland’s announcement, Minneapolis filmmaker and social activist D.A. Bullock said in a recent interview with Star Tribune, “Minneapolis’ violent and murderous police department is built on the Obama Justice Department model of 21st century policing. We don’t expect real change to come out of the DOJ.”