The City of Minneapolis has reached a preliminary agreement with the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis (POFM) that, if passed by the City Council, would significantly increase police officers' pay and implement considerable departmental reforms. As reported by the official City of Minneapolis website, the membership of the POFM has cast a 301-63 majority in favor of these new terms.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed a determined optimism about the agreement, detailing an "all-hands-on-deck effort" that could make Minneapolis police salaries among the highest in the state by 2025. With a 21.7 percent pay increase over the course of three years, the potential financial incentives for officers are clear. However, Mayor Frey's statement, ascertained by the Minneapolis official website, emphasized the broader goal: "a good deal for Minneapolis residents who are counting on this local government to do everything possible to replenish our ranks and deliver on change," as reported by the official City of Minneapolis website.
Asserting the dedication and valor of the Minneapolis police force, Police Chief Brian O’Hara reflected on the proposed agreement's message to both present and prospective officers. In a statement issued by the City's website, O'Hara asserted that "This agreement rightly recognizes the sacrifices they regularly make on behalf of our residents." The new contract sets the stage for not only a pay boost but also a commitment from the city's leaders to its officers.
These reforms are scheduled to provide Police chiefs and leaders with increased oversight and flexibility in both officer deployment and managerial decisions. Echoing the tenor of commitment, Chief O'Hara's earlier citation from the City's website reiterated the importance of managerial control in maintaining public safety.
The contract advancements include essential reforms such as the introduction of a zipper clause to clarify current agreements, staffing flexibility to allow for more dynamic resource allocation, hiring of civilian investigators to enable officers to focus on critical safety work, changes in how public data requests are handled, and a broadened leave time period for officers under investigation for severe misconduct.
Engagement in these discussions has been a persistent effort by the City's Labor Relations team alongside POFM since September 6, 2023. Detailed information on the contractual changes is expected to be released after finalization by both parties and can be found on the City of Minneapolis official website.
