From the Mayor's Office: Second Independent Evaluator Report Shows ‘Significant Strides’ in Minneapolis Police Reform

May 20 e-announcement from Mayor Frey's office:

As the City of Minneapolis prepares to mark five years since the murder of George Floyd, new findings from the independent evaluator Effective Law Enforcement for ALL (ELEFA) show that Minneapolis is not only moving forward with police reform—it’s positioning itself to become a national leader in it. 

Covering the period from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, ELEFA’s second semi-annual report—and its first full-year assessment—shows Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) have made “more progress toward building a foundation for sustainable reform in the first year of monitoring than nearly any other jurisdiction” operating under a court-ordered reform agreement. 

“Minneapolis is making more progress than nearly any other city under a consent decree or settlement agreement in the first year of monitoring—that’s a big deal,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “From day one, I said we would lead the country on police reform, and this report clearly shows our investments, dedication, and commitment to the work are paying off. But no one here is taking a victory lap, we’ll keep pushing until every benchmark translates into real trust and safer streets.” 

Released earlier today, ELEFA’s report highlights several key policy areas that have received final approval, are near final approval, or are under development as the City works toward meeting full compliance with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) Settlement Agreement, signed in 2023. This includes, among others:  

• Near elimination of OPCR and IA historical misconduct complaint backlog – all are now in process with 30 complaints closed as of March 31. 
• Completing a comprehensive training needs assessment and developing a highly regarded annual training plan that ELEFA notes could serve as a model for other law enforcement agencies 
• Developing and updating key policies around Use of Force, mission/vision/values/goals, crisis intervention, and other areas. 
• Incorporating significant resident feedback and input into new and revised policies  
• Expanding officer training programs 
• Laying groundwork for improvements to facilities and data systems   Designating 21 officers to serve as peer support members, providing mentorship, outreach and emotional support to officers who may need assistance 

Minneapolis continues to prioritize accountability, transparency, and community engagement in our reform initiatives. The City is committed to making sure that every step of the reform process is not only effective but also informed by input from the community. These reforms lay the groundwork for the next phase of transformation—both within MPD and across the broader ecosystem of community safety.  

“This second report reflects the efforts of our City leaders and staff, and especially our MPD officers, over the past year,” said Commissioner of Community Safety Toddrick Barnette. “Under Mayor Frey’s leadership, the Office of Community Safety continues to develop a comprehensive community safety ecosystem to deliver equitable safety services for all Minneapolis residents and visitors. This ecosystem cannot exist without police reform, nor can police reform be sustainable without reimagining community safety. It’s not going to be a fast process. The most important thing to know is that we will not let up.” 

"It is clear in this report that the Minneapolis Police Department has accomplished more in one year than any other police department under a consent decree,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said.  I am proud of the hard work our Implementation Unit, Academy Staff, and all of our sworn and professional staff that are stepping up in extraordinary ways to make change real for our residents.  I couldn’t be prouder of our team and I’m thankful for the results they are producing for our department and our community." 

“The Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR) has made significant progress in furthering its reform work. That includes being on pace to eliminate the historic backlog,” said City of Minneapolis Civil Rights Director Michelle Phillips. “Civil Rights leadership is re-imagining how the OPCR does business by involving community voices more than ever before and staying true to its mission to provide impartial assessments of the Minneapolis Police Department.” 

The second semi-annual report is available on ELEFA’s website, ELE4A.org. ELEFA will continue to host regularly scheduled community engagement sessions. The next review period will cover work completed between April 1, 2025, through September 30, 2025.  

More information and progress updates can be found on the police reform pages of the City's website.