Memorandum of Agreement
In 2003 we entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) as the US Department of Justice recognized community leaders. The MOA created the Police Community Relations Council (PCRC) to serve as the joint body consisting of UCMT and MPD representatives, charged with implementation of the MOA. Many of the policy reforms outlined in the original MOA were adopted, many were not as it expired and political will waned. In 2021 we released an updated set of recommendations.
In January of 2022, with the support of Mayor Jacob Frey, the Police Community Relations Council reconvened. MPD and members of UCMT are nearly finished updating each section of the original 2003 MOA, which had an unprecedented scope including a Preamble and sections on:
- Use of Force;
- Police Community Relations;
- Mental Health Issues;
- Diversifying the Workforce;
- Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity;
- Racially Biased Policing;
- Accountability of Police Officers – The Complaint and Discipline Process;
- Removal of Children from the Home / Out of Home Placement;
- Training;
- Equipment;
- Budget;
- Effective Date;
- Expiration; and
- Performance, Monitoring and Compliance with the Agreement
Much of this work has consisted of revisions that incorporate recent MPD and Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) policy changes. Other additions include the creation of a community mentorship program for MPD officers, renewed focus on out of home placement for juveniles, and the detailing of an annual report that will gather updates on a number of metrics and goals for public release each year.
Once the PCRC team finishes its review of all sections by July of 2022, the updated MOA will be sent to the Mayor’s office to sign, and will be sent to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights and the US Department of Justice for incorporation into the consent decree process underway by both these bodies. Adoption and incorporation is vital to ensure that recommendations and requirements emerging from the consent decree process are first and foremost anchored in the communities who have been working on police reform for many decades and who have the most expertise and personal experience at the table advocating for reform on these wide range of issues.