DOJ audit finds Minneapolis police lag in spotting bad officer conduct

The U.S. Department of Justice released a draft audit Wednesday of the Minneapolis Police Department's officer discipline procedures.

Police Chief Janee Harteau requested the assessment, which was conducted by the Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center and looked at six years of records from the department's internal affairs unit and two police review boards.

Steve Rickman, a senior advisor with the investigating office, says the department is on a pathway to reform — but the early intervention system it uses to spot bad officer behavior needs an overhaul.

"It's not automated. It doesn't produce systematic findings, and it's essentially ineffective," he said.

The Justice Department's report also recommends expanding community engagement and making the police department's complaint process more transparent.

Harteau said she welcomes the Justice Department's review and plans to assemble a committee, composed of people inside and outside the police department, to put its recommendations into place.

The final report is expected in four to six weeks.