Mpls. Council member Cunningham: Police should limit focus to violent crime

There’s a faceoff underway in Minneapolis between the mayor and some City Council members over the future of the city’s Police Department. Mayor Jacob Frey oversees the department, but the City Council ultimately controls its budget.

Three council members want to cut the department’s funding by nearly $8 million — or roughly 5 percent. They say putting that money toward non-law enforcement public safety programs instead would free up officers to focus on violent crime, which has spiked in recent months.

One of those council members is Phillipe Cunningham, who represents Ward 4 in north Minneapolis. He spoke with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer ahead of a public meeting on the budget.

Click on the audio player above to hear their conversation.

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