Minneapolis officials are initiating a more scrutinizing look into the Minneapolis Police Department's handling of Allison Lussier's death, a case that has sparked concerns over the initial quality of the investigation. Council Member Jason Chavez, alongside Council Member Robin Wonsley and Council President Elliott Payne, called for this action at the behest of the victim's family, as reported by Jason Chavez - Minneapolis Ward 9.
An internal review has been confirmed by a social media post from Jason Chavez, stating that the City Auditor's Office has opted to conduct a special review of the case. They are set to open internal special reviews and will be publishing a request for proposal (RFP) to likely find an independent evaluator to help thoroughly investigate what led up to, and what followed, the February 2024 passing of Allison Lussier. This response is seen as a potentially significant step towards seeking justice and addressing the broader issue of violence against Indigenous individuals.
The Star Tribune’s investigation into the police records has raised serious issues. In a review by the Star Tribune, it was revealed that the initial investigation suffered from a significant lack of diligence. "The Crime Lab was never called, so limited forensic evidence was obtained from the scene," as stated by Jason Chavez - Minneapolis Ward 9. Further, it was reported that crucial surveillance footage had not been immediately requested, and the case wasn't assigned to a homicide investigator until five days following Lussier’s death, leading many to question the thoroughness of law enforcement's response to such a serious case.
