DOJ finds patterns of excessive force, racial discrimination at Minneapolis Police Department

A two-year-long Department of Justice investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department found a pattern of "excessive force, including unjustified deadly force," racial discrimination and civil rights violations, all of which created the conditions that led to George Floyd's murder, according to a report released Friday.

The DOJ launched the investigation in April 2021, after Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering Floyd the year prior by pinning his knee onto Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. The federal probe found “systemic problems” in the department, including the use of "unjustified deadly force" and unlawful discrimination against Black and Native American people.

"The patterns and practices we observed made what happened to George Floyd possible," Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a press conference Friday.

The investigation found "numerous incidents" in which officers responded to a person's claim that they were unable to breathe by telling them "some version of, 'You can breathe, you're talking right now,'" according to the report.

The report also details a pattern of violating the First Amendment rights of protesters and journalists and discrimination against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to assistance calls, in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Officials from the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department in a statement Friday affirmed their willingness to collaborate with the Department of Justice to shape a consent decree.

“These findings are a major step in reforming this department into one that provides a level of service that will be a model for law enforcement agencies across the country. Moving forward, we will continue the process of changing the culture of the Minneapolis Police Department to ensure the safety and wellness of our police officers and the residents of this city,” Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said in the statement. “And paramount to this is the rebuilding of trust between this department and the people it serves.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called the release of the report “an essential step forward for community trust and community safety.”