The city of Minneapolis has agreed to a series of police reforms after a probe from the Justice Department in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.
A court-enforceable agreement known as a consent decree requires Minneapolis to focus on preventing excessive force and to seek immediate medical care for anyone injured during police interactions.
The consent decree , announced late Monday, also requires the department to focus on ending racially discriminatory policing and discrimination against those with disabilities. It further calls on police to avoid using handcuffs on children younger than 14 and restricts certain police tactics during protests.
“This agreement places the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department on a path toward achieving the significant reforms, lawful policing, and appropriate emergency response services that the residents of Minneapolis deserve,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
“As I said last summer when I announced the findings of this investigation — George Floyd should be alive today. This agreement is an important step toward ensuring that meaningful, durable reform is achieved in Minneapolis.”