Three members of the Minneapolis City Council submitted a proposal on Thursday that would eliminate the city’s police department and replace it with a new Department of Public Security, while still keeping police officers in the city.
The plan – proposed by Phillipe Cunningham, Steve Fletcher and Jeremy Schroeder – said the new configuration would also include “additional divisions … to provide a comprehensive approach to public security beyond law enforcement.”
The council has been pushing for radical reforms in the police department after protests rocked Minneapolis for months after George Floyd’s death in late May. Floyd died in police custody after a police officer could be seen on a video kneeling on his neck for more than 8 minutes, while other police members waited without intervening.
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In December, two council members – Fletcher and Cunningham – denied their involvement with the “defuse the police” movement just days after the council approved a budget that transferred approximately $ 8 million from the police department.
Another proposal blocked by the city’s Charter Commission last year, preventing it from appearing on the November ballot for voting, initially proposed a Department of Public Security as an option even, but the new proposal says it would now be mandatory.
Council members also proposed a new wording that removes the city statute clause that gives the mayor “full power” of police department operations and extends it to the council, a measure that Mayor Jacob Frey says may be problematic due to advisers. different perspectives on public security.
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“Minneapolis residents are envisioning a comprehensive public security approach that is more effective and more reflective of our values, and are calling on the city to act,” said Fletcher in a statement. “This amendment to the regulation creates a structure that supports this vision and allows our city to innovate.”
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The Star Tribune reported that other municipal services, such as the Office of Violence Prevention or 911, could be included in the Department of Public Security, but that these details would be resolved later.
The three board members did not immediately respond to Fox News’s request for comment.
Stephanie Pagones of Fox News contributed to this report, as well as The Associated Press.