Biden admin secures police reform in Minneapolis. Will Trump reverse it?

The Biden administration has secured an agreement to implement police reforms in Minneapolis ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The consent decree agreement on Monday with the Minneapolis Police Department follows a similar decree that the department agreed upon with Louisville, Kentucky, police last month. This comes after the Biden administration initiated investigations into possible “pattern or practice” of civil rights abuses by police departments around the country in 2021 following the anti-police riots that erupted after the death of George Floyd in 2020.

The 171-page Minneapolis agreement aims to overhaul the city’s police training and use-of-force policies. It requires officers to prioritize the sanctity of human life in their activities and prohibits the influence of race, gender, or ethnicity in decisions to use force. Other elements of the agreement include protections for protesters, new data collection requirements to reduce racial discrimination, guidelines on pursuing fleeing subjects, interrogation requirements, a ban on racial profiling in investigations, and traffic stop reforms.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized during a press conference in Minneapolis that the findings identified in the city are severe and impact people’s lives. She stated that the community, city, and police department are all in support of reform, and the Justice Department is committed to achieving transformation in the community.

Minneapolis City Council Member Robin Wonsley expressed skepticism in an email to constituents about the incoming Trump administration’s commitment to supporting the consent decree. A similar agreement reached with the Louisville police has faced challenges from a local police union and criticism from conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation.

Both Minneapolis and Louisville became focal points for police reform debates following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in 2020. The protests that ensued in both cities led to multiple fatalities and extensive property damage. The consent decrees in both cities seek to address issues related to use-of-force policies, traffic stops, protester handling, and racial discrimination.

Fox News Digital contacted the Justice Department for comment, but they declined to provide a statement. The agreements in Minneapolis and Louisville are awaiting court approval, and their implementation will mark significant steps towards police reform in these communities.