Here is the DOJ’s report, which states that the MPD and Minnesota’s largest city “engage in a pattern or practice of conduct in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law.”
“Our investigation showed that MPD officers routinely use excessive force, often when no force is necessary. We found that MPD officers often use unreasonable force (including deadly force) to obtain immediate compliance with orders, often forgoing meaningful de-escalation tactics and instead using force to subdue people,” the report states. “MPD’s pattern or practice of using excessive force violates the law.”
The DOJ probe found that MPD:
- Uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force and unreasonable use of Tasers;
- Unlawfully discriminates against Black people and Native American people in its enforcement activities, including the use of force following stops;
- Violates the rights of people engaged in protected speech; and
- Along with the city, discriminates against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls for assistance.
Specific mention was made to illegal attacks on protestors and journalists.
It’s nice to see confirmation of what we’ve known: they aren’t just evil, they’re preying on the weak and disadvantaged.
I would love to see a top down restructuring and a complete rethinking of how we approach policing here. I’ve been on the receiving end of their shitty, inhuman tactics, and it’s just fkd up tbh. As it’s currently set up, they are not civil servants.
As it’s currently set up, they are not civil servants.
Exactly. As it is, they have no obligation to do anything good, and have full protection for any bad they do. When you set up perverse reward structures like this, there should be no surprise when you get bad outcomes.
They also get to enjoy the full benefit of being unionized, while they are themselves an arm of those wishing to quell and quash labor movements.
They’re also horribly paranoid: in every interaction with another human they assume that the other person is a criminal, and that their lives are at risk. When you view things through this lens, you can justify to yourself a lot of horrific behavior.
Yep nail on the head. Sadly ive Iived and am living through it now, which is why I feel pretty strongly on this point. It’s not quite conceivable for some till it happens to them.
I get cuffed, intimidated, and brought to jail pretty much every time I interact with police. Does not matter what I did. I have a record. Of fucking misdemeanors. Drugs. LMAO. That’s all it takes. They can do what they want, fudge paperwork, lie, and guess what? You’ll sit, innocent, until you sign a plea deal to get you out of that shitty place no matter what. Can’t afford a lawyer? Your getting smoked, sorry.
Been to jail, and holy hell what a racket that place is, it’s literally such a joke that I’ve never laughed so hard in my life as I did in jail. It’s surreal quite frankly.
It’s gross. The whole thing makes me ashamed to be a human being.
