Under President Trump, is Minneapolis’ pending consent decree with the DOJ dead?

Under President Trump, is Minneapolis' pending consent decree with the DOJ dead? A consent decree is one of the federal government's most aggressive tools for reining in police departments found to be violating the U.S. Constitution. Republican presidents rarely pursue them. Trump killed Chicago's after assuming his first term in office.

By Susan Du and

Liz Sawyer

The Minnesota Star Tribune November 13, 2024 at 11:00AM Formal talks did not begin until late June, Anderson explained, when the DOJ submitted a "lengthy" draft consent decree to the city for feedback — nearly a year after their findings report was issued. No rationale was provided for the delay, she said.

According to Anderson, the parties have been working in earnest since this summer, meeting once every three to four weeks and remaining in constant contact.

Frey allocated $16 million in 2024 and $11 million in 2025 to manage reforms expected to result from both state and federal consent decrees, requiring dozens of new employees. Last year, MPD launched an Implementation Unit , dedicated to improving data collection and achieving compliance.

A Justice Department spokesperson declined comment for this story.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland listens as Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks about how Minneapolis will comply with the DOJ investigation in Minneapolis in June, 2023. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune) Skepticism abundant Skepticism remains among members of the public who have been awaiting progress on the federal consent decree.

Last month, activists interrupted a Minneapolis City Council meeting to demand Police Chief Brian O'Hara's firing after the department failed to act on multiple arrest warrants for a south Minneapolis man who was known for terrorizing his Black neighbors , and allegedly shooting one in the neck. O'Hara is under scrutiny for failing to protect the victim, Davis Moturi. O'Hara, a former high-ranking official from New Jersey, had been hired in part because of his prior experience with a consent decree in Newark.