In an act that has stirred the Minneapolis community, Councilmember Jason Chavez from Ward 9 has publicly condemned the decision to have Officer Mark Hanneman lead use-of-force trainings within the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). Hanneman is the officer who shot and killed 22-year-old Amir Locke during a no-knock raid in February 2022. Chavez’s concerns were voiced in a social media statement that detailed a series of actions he believes need to be taken, including an independent misconduct investigation and the removal of Hanneman from any training or leadership roles within MPD.
Chief O’Hara, having expressed his belief in the potential for this decision to “advance cultural change within the department,” has fallen under scrutiny. Chavez railed against this sentiment, stating, “betraying the trust of our community is not how we advance police accountability or cultural change within the department.” The outcry comes from a pace troubled by the appointment of an officer, wrapped in controversy from a case still fresh in public memory, to a position meant to mold the future conduct of law enforcement…