City Of Minneapolis: Civil Rights Department's Office Of Police Conduct Review Will Conduct Special Review Of MPD's No-Knock Warrant Pol ...

Press release from the City of Minneapolis:

February 14, 2022

In the wake of the Feb. 2 fatal police shooting of Amir Locke, the Office of Police Conduct Review (OPCR), a division of the City’s Civil Rights Department, will conduct a special review of Minneapolis Police Department’s no-knock warrant policy. The review will focus on identifying and recommending specific changes and improvements to departmental policy and procedures.

As an administrative body, OPCR does not have the authority to conduct a criminal investigation. However, City Ordinance Chapter 172-Police Conduct Oversight tasks OPCR with assuring that the Minneapolis Police Department delivers services in a lawful and nondiscriminatory manner. OPCR is also charged with providing meaningful civilian oversight of the Minneapolis Police Department. 

“First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the tragic death of Mr. Amir Locke,” said Interim Civil Rights Director Alberder Gillespie. “Amir’s life mattered. There are no words to express the depths of our sympathy for Mr. Locke’s family and loved ones.”

OPCR will conduct a detailed and comprehensive review of the Minneapolis Police Department’s no-knock warrant policy. OPCR is also tasked with investigating complaints of officer misconduct, which is a separate process from this special review and takes place independently. To ensure the integrity of the review and any related investigations, information will not be shared until it is legally permitted.

“I am fully supportive of Interim Director Gillespie’s vision and quick action in mobilizing the Office of Police Conduct Review to pursue this work and I trust we’ll have a stronger process for it,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “This important review will complement our engagement with external experts to provide needed clarity around the impacts of these policies for both community and officers.”

Learn more about the Office of Police Conduct Review.

This press release was produced by the City of Minneapolis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.