Minneapolis police officers will be trained to exhaust all reasonable means in defusing potentially violent encounters before resorting to force, under new department rules unveiled Monday.
The guideline changes, which have been in the works since the release of a wide-ranging report by a presidential task force on policing last spring, are designed to mend broken public trust in the wake of high-profile police shootings of unarmed black men, department officials said.
Police Chief Janeé Harteau and Mayor Betsy Hodges unveiled the changes at a Monday news conference, pointing them out as one of many recent initiatives aimed at restoring the public trust — which is necessary to maintain public safety. The chief said it was “unacceptable” that there has never been a time when police relationships with communities of color have been without tension.
“Improved training is only the first step in repairing those ties,” she said.
The changes, made late last month, largely focus on “sanctity of life.” With that comes de-escalation of dangerous situations. The practice was encouraged in the past, but was never a requirement.
As part of the training, officers have been taught to consider what factors may contribute to a lack of compliance, such as language barriers, drug and alcohol use, or a mental crisis. The policy also urges officers to announce their intent to use force before actually doing so.
