Task force designed to guide changes for Minneapolis police

Defund police march in northeast Minneapolis
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey leaves a protest march after coming out of his home to speak to protesters calling for the Minneapolis Police Department to be defunded on June 6 in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd on May 25.
Stephen Maturen | Getty Images

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced Friday that a new task force has been formed to help guide the city as it considers changes to its Police Department, a priority for city leaders and some community members after the May 25 death of George Floyd.

The public safety transformation task force will include national and local leaders. Members of a local group will focus on increased accountability, safety beyond policing, community and police relations and proactive measures. Frey didn't elaborate.

“Achieving deep, transformational change to public safety will require a team effort,” Frey said in a statement. “And the combination of experts and advocates that we have assembled are primed to deliver innovative policies and a wholly-new approach to public safety.”

Members of the local group will include police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Minneapolis NAACP president Leslie Redmond, Hennepin County Chief Public Defender Mary Moriarty, and others.

Frey said a national group will also meet in coming weeks to focus on policies, practices and models to help Minneapolis build a safer city for everyone.

The City Council is moving forward with a proposal to dismantle the Police Department and replace it with a community-based approach. Frey has said he’s against abolishing the department, but that there must be change.

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