Minneapolis City Council Approves Ordinance To Eliminate The Office of Community Safety

Photo Credit: Minneapolis, MN City Of Lakes / Community Safety Ambassadors

(MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.) – Against the advice of the Attorney General and NYU Policing Project, the Minneapolis City Council approved an ordinance to eliminate the Office of Community Safety (OCS) at its regular meeting on October 29. Those supporting the ordinance, including councilmember Robin Wonsley, argued that the OCS is costly and redundant. 

Despite costing more than $2 million annually, the OCS hasn’t done an adequate job of reigning in the Minneapolis Police Department’s (MPD) overspending or ensuring that the department complies with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights Settlement Agreement.

“It has essentially become a barrier to advancing a comprehensive public safety system that goes beyond policing,” Wonsley stated, “OCS has failed to ensure that the MPD has become compliant with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights settlement agreement, and to rein in MPD overspending. These failures have real consequences for our residents.”

According to Wonsley, the consequences include residents paying for yet another public safety service while receiving fewer actual safety services. The MPD has a known history of violence, racial injustice, and human rights violations. 

Many council members saw the ordinance as step one of restructuring the MPD into a department that strives to protect human and civil rights. In other public safety items, the council failed to overturn two Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR)-related vetoes by Mayor Jacob Frey.

The first vetoed the council's previously approved denial of the BCR contract with Community Bridges, while the second vetoed the extension of the existing contract. Mayoral intervention has put the future of the court-ordered program in question.

Councilmembers also tried, and failed, to add a compromise to the previous BCR proposal, but did pass a legislative directive to bring Mobile BCR in-house. The directive requested a legal memo and necessary state law changes, and it also instructed staff to explore community collaboration.

To add to or correct any information in this report, please contact me at kristin.h@lead4earth.org.