Councilors: 'We're going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department'

[killaphill]

Source: Minneapolis News

Members of Minneapolis City Council are adding fuel to growing calls for the disbanding of the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of George Floyd's killing.

There have been rumblings in recent days of looking for alternative approaches to law enforcement and crime prevention in Minneapolis, as trust in the police department continues to plummet after the 46-year-old's death.

Chief among those calling for change is Northside council member Jeremiah Ellison, who on Thursday tweeted "we are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department."

"And when we’re done, we’re not simply gonna glue it back together," he added. "We are going to dramatically rethink how we approach public safety and emergency response. It’s really past due."

Read more: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/councilor-were-going-to-dismantle-the-minneapolis-police-department

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Interesting idea. I'm not sure what the bridge would be between the old force and the new alternative approach, but I think its long overdue. Has another major American city ever done something similar? I honestly don't know, but I think very shortly we will have entirely new models to policing being rolled out.

[Renew Deal]

1. The police union guy is going to go crazy.

[BunnyMcGee]

5. If the union is like Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police

they would be part of the problem. Providing unlimited, blind support of the accused officers while discrediting the accusers, blaming the victim, and providing false evidence or testimony.
Laquan McDonald's case had all of this

[Historic NY]

20. Remember how Republicans passed that payroll deduction thing right to work BS

The city can tell the Union they will no longer deduct dues in payroll . They aren't required.
Janus vs AFSME

Breakup the 3rd PCt. don't let them back

Reassign Sgt , LT's to different Pcts.

Breakup & Reassign every squad to different PCt. so no one works with people from the last PCt.

Reassign all the specials duties and perks to uniform patrols.

All personnel will be required to keep a memo book of their activities & have it with them at all times

Regulate who and when they can have lunch breaks

Strictly enforce sector rules so no one leave w/o permission.

Make the Sgt., Ltd. accountable for every action.

Issue and make each officer sign for the Dept rules/rule books

[The Magistrate]

2. This Is Probably Necessary, Sir

Given who they elected as their union chief, clearly a majority of the force is unfit for service.

[killaphill]

3. No arguments

The current force is apparently not redeemable save for a very few.

[Scruffy1]

9. I agree.

We had a big protest against this asshole when BLM first started. He's still the union boss.

[OhNo-Really]

16. Camden New Jersey

Why Camden, N.J., the Murder Capital of the Country, Disbanded Its Police Force

https://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/gov-camden-disbands-police-force-for-new-department.html

[DeminPennswoods]

24. Consolidating at the county level makes sense,

but it is hard to achieve given how fiercely people want "local control".

[OhNo-Really]

27. So true. We just went from County to City Police

[roamer65]

4. That's a way to get rid of Bob Kroll.

Disband the department.

[IronLionZion]

6. There should be some charges for Bob Kroll somewhere for his role in the culture of MPD

many have called for his resignation but he needs to be forced out and held accountable somehow

[mwooldri]

7. Northern Ireland may be able to provide some ideas.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary was replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (fortunately the original name of Northern Ireland Police Service didn't get used because of the abbreviation - NIPS). Reform was made because of sectarian reasons - the RUC was heavily formed of Protestant officers, and very few Catholics - and the Catholic community distrusted the RUC, with Sinn Fein calling for the RUC to be disbanded. Affirmative action has meant there are a lot more Catholics on the force and PSNI is fairly trusted by both protestants and catholics.

While it's not an exact template, inquiry commissions could be formed and then their recommendations be implemented, even if it means whole police departments are replaced with new police services.

[47of74]

8. Yeah I'm down with that.

I think at the start Gov. Walz should have sent the guard in with orders to arrest and detain every member of the MPD, put them in a warehouse, and have them come out one at a time while they surrender their badge, weapon, and any equipment they have before going home to be confined there for the duration of the crisis. And have the guard patrol Minneapolis until a new law enforcement agency could be stood up to take the old department's place.

[certainot]

10. universituy of minnesota supports 4 limbaugh stations that will have

a lot to say to stop that

like 86 other unis it needs to start looking for apolitical alternatives to broadcast sports on

[SpazzTheCat]

11. This is full of danger

For something like this to have a chance of working, the community MUST support and work with the city to make it successful. If crime really spikes upward, this could set back efforts to reform policing significantly.

[EarlG]

12. Consent of the governed

In political philosophy, the phrase consent of the governed refers to the idea that a government's legitimacy and moral right to use state power is only justified and lawful when consented to by the people or society over which that political power is exercised. (Wikipedia)

There’s no law that says we have to keep the shitty militarized police system we have at the moment. If the people don’t want it, our elected officials can change it.

[FakeNoose]

13. Start by busting the police union

Once they've accomplished that, it may not be necessary to dismantle the entire police department.

[quakerboy]

22. Easier to scrap it all and start from scratch

[Xolodno]

14. Some ideas....

1. Police have maintain a representative force that of the population.

2. Divide Police into classes. Those that respond to traffic issues only, non-violent crimes only and welfare checks, mental health, domestic disturbance, violent crime/robbery. Not an all hands on deck approach unless called upon in.

3. Civilian boards that represent the neighborhood and have the power to suspend an officer over the objection of a union.

4. Easier to sue the police in civil court (nothing gets someone act together when they hear they won't be getting a pay raise due to one bad cop and the lawsuit).

5. Union has to have review by the AFL-CIO.

6. Suspension for turning off camera.

7. Taser should always be used first, unless under the most extreme conditions.

8. Quarterly training for new tactics and review old policies.

9. Serious mental evaluation for prospective police officers....and every couple of years there after.

No more Robo Cop bullshit.

[rockfordfile]

15. good

[Hassler]

17. Union Prez, Bob Kroll is an admitted white supremacist. Invite him to

Apply for the new department. Then laugh in his face as you show him the door.

[ancianita]

18. Rethinking policing models is important. I hope other cities take note of how they re-form it.

[Maribelle]

19. Dubai has been experimenting for a while with robots on the police force

Robots to assist 25% of Dubai’s police force by 2030

https://www.softwaretestingnews.co.uk/robots-to-assist-25-of-dubais-police-force-by-2030/


After watching the clips of the protests these last few days, it is obvious something is needed desperately in all the major cities. I should think it would be a tremendous asset for the military as well.

[murielm99]

21. This sounds good to me.

Dismantle it. Come up with something better.

Minnesota has always been a forward thinking state. This is overdue. It will not be without problems. It may take a long time.

Show us the way, Minneapolis. Maybe the rest of the country can follow suit.

[onetexan]

26. +1 K&R

[DeminPennswoods]

23. Lots of PA towns don't have their own

police forces, but use the State Police to patrol.

Before completely eliminating the city police force, I would give every officer a psychological fitness test. Those who pass can be part of the new organization. They would have to undergo follow on psychological tests at random intervals to remain employed.

[FakeNoose]

25. Without a doubt

A lot of time and money go into training police and we don't want to lose the good ones. So there needs to be better ways to weed out the bad ones, and it can't be used for political motives. Unfortunately that's what the Police Unions have become in many areas, political machines for one party or the other.

I don't know the answer but I know that we have to find a way. The Pittsburgh Police are really trying, despite a few stumbles. Hopefully the problems that are happening in Minneapolis will never come here.

[Steelrolled]

28. I think the city council has no idea how this will be done

In the end, I think it will be a reform, perhaps major, of the current system. No one wants to use the word "reform" because it has been said so many times in the past without much result. The word "dismantle" will draw more likes and retweets.