The council meeting kicked off with a comprehensive presentation on the city’s handling of domestic violence cases. The focus was drawn to a report from Global Rights for Women, which evaluated the Minneapolis Police Department’s response to domestic violence. The report, presented by Executive Director Cheryl Thomas, highlighted significant gaps in the department’s handling of such cases, revealing that police often failed to pursue abusers who fled scenes, leaving victims at risk of further harm. Thomas underscored the systemic failures, citing the tragic case of Alison Lusier, whose family was present at the meeting, as a stark example of the consequences of inadequate police action.

The report emphasized the need for reform, pointing out that many victims, particularly from marginalized communities, were disproportionately affected by these systemic issues. Thomas called for immediate changes, presenting the report as a roadmap for reform and urging city leaders to take accountability for addressing gender-based violence.

Further into the meeting, a pilot project aimed at improving the handling of domestic violence cases was discussed. Set to launch in July, the project involves a new risk assessment tool designed to enhance police officers’ effectiveness in gathering information from victims. This initiative focuses on building rapport between officers and victims. Council members raised concerns about the timeline for the pilot, questioning why a three-month period was chosen over a typical year-long trial.

The meeting also addressed the roles of domestic violence navigators within the Minneapolis Police precincts. These navigators are tasked with providing advocacy, referrals, and safety planning for individuals involved in domestic-related situations. Council members sought clarification on the implementation and effectiveness of these navigators, stressing the need for data to evaluate their impact, particularly in communities of color.

Shifting focus, the council discussed delays in executing contracts for violence interruption services, which aim to reduce retaliation and prevent violence using the CURE Violence Global model. The Neighborhood Safety Department faced criticism over the slow progress in finalizing contracts, with concerns raised about the potential impact of these delays on community safety, especially as summer approached. The discussion revealed that several organizations, including A Mother’s Love and Sabathani, had not yet begun their work due to various barriers to contract execution.

Council members expressed frustration over the bureaucratic hurdles hindering timely service delivery. They emphasized the need for better leadership within the Department of Safety to expedite contract signing and implementation, particularly in areas with high gun violence, such as Zone 5. The absence of a vendor for Zone 5 was noted, prompting inquiries about whether any offers had been made to other vendors to cover the area.

Another point of discussion was the extension of police misconduct investigations. The council unanimously approved a contract amendment extending the investigation period by 18 months, following warnings from ALEFA, the independent evaluator, about potential fund exhaustion and case backlogs. The extension aims to maintain momentum in addressing complaints and conducting thorough investigations, with a focus on reducing the historical backlog of cases.

The potential implications of the federal consent decree, which could impose around 400 reforms on the police department, were also discussed. The decree aims to address issues such as excessive force and racial discrimination, with council members highlighting the importance of these reforms in rebuilding community trust and ensuring a police department that respects constitutional rights.