Governor Tim Walz Issues Statement on Department of Justice Investigation

(KNSI) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a statement Wednesday afternoon over Attorney General Merrick Garland’s announcement that the Department of Justice is opening a federal investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.

In the statement, he says, “Following the murder of George Floyd, I called for an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. Last June, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights took up that call, immediately launched a civil rights investigation, and obtained a groundbreaking temporary restraining order against the Minneapolis Police Department and the City of Minneapolis. The state’s investigation continues and, now, under the leadership of President Biden and Attorney General Garland the United States Department of Justice is also answering the call. I welcome the federal government’s involvement in this important work, and I look forward to reviewing the results of both investigations as we work to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”

Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan chimed in, saying that the trial is over, but “the grief and anger ignited by the murder of George Floyd did not emerge from a vacuum. The issue of systemic racism in policing did not begin or end with one officer, but is instead about a pattern of behavior, a culture that continues to go unchecked.”

Flanagan highlighted the work of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and said she “welcomes the investigation by the United States Department of Justice as we work at all levels of this system, top to bottom, to build a state where everyone is safe, valued, and protected. We have tremendous work to do.”

In June 2020, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights began an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department after filing a civil rights charge related to the death of George Floyd.

Days after the investigation was launched, MDHR filed an emergency court action to create immediate structural changes in the MPD in an unprecedented move.

Under the court order, the City of Minneapolis agreed to the following terms:

Chokeholds are immediately banned;
Police officers must report and intervene if another officer utilizes an unauthorized use of force;
The Chief may only approve the use of crowd control weapons during protests and demonstrations of Police;
Timely and transparent discipline decisions for police officers must be made; and
The Minneapolis Civil Rights Department may audit body camera footage.

The order also requires the MPD to comply with the investigation by MDHR fully, and failure to comply with any of the measures could lead to penalties.

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