Photo Credit: YouTube/ Minneapolis Commissioner of Community Safety Todd Barnette
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN.) Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is threatening to veto the Council's decision to vote against Frey’s nominee for Commissioner of Community Safety, Toddrick Barnette, at the Apr. 9 City Council Meeting. The Council voted 7-6 against Barnette continuing as Commissioner of Community Safety.
Council President Elliot Payne expressed concern over what many felt were mishandled cases and preventable tragedies, specifically citing the cases of David Moturi, Allison Lussier, and Mariah Samuels.
The Cases In Question
Moturi was shot in his own yard by neighbor, John Sawchak, who had repeatedly threatened, bullied, and made racial slurs at Moturi and his wife for years. Incidents were reported consistently, but no action was taken. After the shooting, the response wasn’t any better; it took five days for police to arrest Sawchak.
Video Credit: YouTube
Allison Lussier reported her partner multiple times. While the official cause of death was a subdermal hematoma, her family believes it was related to the abuse. An independent investigation of city policies and MPD/other city employee actions regarding the handling of Lussier’s complaints over the last three years was approved.
Council requested a report by July 31, 2025, but the findings have not yet been reported; though the independent auditor is expected to release the information this month. The incident has led Democratic Senator Mary Kunesh, also a Native American Caucus member, to introduce “Allison’s Law.”
Video Credit: YouTube
The bill would include updated policy changes, including requiring a coroner or officer to interview a family member about any concerns of abuse, review documents related to abuse, and advance police training regarding altered crime scenes.
Mariah Samuels broke up with David Wright, citing domestic abuse. According to her family, Samuels had made several calls to the police and filed a court order for protection. Still, he was able to stalk and eventually get close enough to kill Samuels. In response to public outrage, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara called for a thorough review of the case and further police training on domestic violence incidents.
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights found both the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department have a pattern of racial discrimination that violates the State’s Human Rights Act. These three cases are prime examples. Moturi is African American, so was Samuels, and Lussier was Native American.
Other Council Concerns Regarding Barnette
Other council members cited a failure to control overspending ($19.6M in 2025) or fund violence prevention in Cedar-Riverside, and the mismanagement of the violence interrupter program. Multiple council members also noted that since Barnette became Commissioner of Community Safety, there’s been little improvement in public safety.
For his part, Mayor Frey credited Barnette with bringing “structure, stability, and compliance to the OCS, rebuilding inter-departmental communication, and ensuring effective emergency response.” Frey also stressed Barnette’s background as a chief judge and dedication to long-term reform.
Is A Veto Even Possible?
There’s a question regarding whether the Mayor even has the authority to veto its vote, with Vice President Jamal Osman saying the attempt has “no teeth.”
Video Credit: YouTube
He may be right. City Council has final authority to approve or deny appointments, a right granted by the city charter. The procedural process is currently under review by the City Attorney’s Office. Barnette will remain in the position for the time being, but his future remains uncertain and may depend on whether Frey can veto the Council’s vote.
To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at kristin.h@lead4earth.org and leave a comment below.
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