The City of Minneapolis, alongside the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR), is moving forward in its quest for accountability and reform by calling on three distinguished teams to present their proposals for serving as the Independent Evaluator of its settlement agreement with MDHR. This significant role is designed to critically assess and report on the City's adherence to the settlement terms, delivering not only oversight but also technical assistance in areas such as policy development and training content.
Among those vying to become the watchdog over Minneapolis police reforms are the nonprofit Effective Law Enforcement For ALL (ELEFA), international consulting firm Jensen Hughes, and civil rights law firm Relman Colfax. Each team brings a wealth of experience in law enforcement and civil rights, and they each are slated to soon publically present their strategic plans to robustly monitor and guide the City towards compliance with the agreement's mandates on nondiscriminatory policing and community safety.
As reported by the City of Minneapolis, ELEFA, with offices in New Orleans and Silver Springs, is formed on the principles of partnership between police, civic and community leaders to reinvent law enforcement. Jensen Hughes, on the other hand, stakes its reputation on enhancing police performance to align with constitutional, just, and trust-building practices, with its presence felt globally through its offices around the world. Meanwhile, Relman Colfax, based in Washington, D.C., brings its formidable track record in fighting discrimination and enforcing civil rights law into the mix, having represented various cities and law enforcement personnel in these vital issues.
Interested citizens can catch the first community session on January 9, from 6-8 p.m. at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, while a second chance to engage will follow on January 10, at the same time, at Plymouth Congregational Church. Each presentation provides a platform for the teams to not only showcase their experience and methods but also to deeply engage with the community and promptly answer their questions.
Once these public presentations have concluded, the City and MDHR will collaborate to choose the most qualified Independent Evaluator. Following this selection, the Minneapolis City Council is expected to vote on a contract, with the chosen evaluator starting their critical mission by March 9. This comes in the wake of a Hennepin County District Court judge's approval of the City’s settlement agreement with MDHR in July, a comprehensive framework aimed to ensure that the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and the City enterprise systematically embody reforms that support fair policing and enhance community safety in Minneapolis.
