Working Group on Police-Involved Deadly Force Encounters Presents Recommendations
DPS Commissioner John Harrington, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and members of the working group on police-involved deadly force encounters released 28 recommendations and 33 action steps aimed at reducing deadly force encounters with law enforcement in Minnesota. The working group, composed of a wide variety of community, advocacy, academic, foundation, mental-health, law-enforcement and criminal-justice-system stakeholders, came to consensus on the recommendations and action steps.
"These recommendations, if implemented, will make Minnesota communities and the peace officers who serve them safer. The recommendations offer practical guidance and action steps to better prevent and respond to police-involved deadly force encounters," Commissioner Harrington said. "We brought together a knowledgeable group of stakeholders representing diverse backgrounds and professions from around the state to have the tough conversations. We heard testimony from 50 experts, including families who lost loved ones. As a result, we now have a plan of action that will reduce many deadly force encounters with police and provide justice and support when a tragedy occurs."
The executive summary of the work of the working group, with all 28 recommendations and 33 action steps, is available.
About the Working Group
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington have convened a working group on police-involved deadly force encounters. Together they are serving as co-chairs of the group.
The working group will provide a framework for stakeholders statewide to have a voice in developing recommendations which may include policy, procedure, legislation, programming and training.
The working group has solicited feedback statewide in several ways including witness testimony, online submissions and public comment.
The working group convened a series of hearings on the following topics
Investigation, oversight, and accountability
Prevention, training, and officer wellness
Policy and legal Implications
Community healing and mental health
Each hearing had three to four panels; each panel consisted of three to four witnesses who provided testimony relevant to the theme for the day. Panels and witnesses represented community, academia, subject matter experts, law enforcement and prosecutors.
All hearings were open to the public.
At the conclusion of each hearing, there was a public comment period for feedback relevant to the topics discussed. All feedback – including witness testimony, in-person comments and email contact - was documented for the record and considered during working group deliberations.
Hearing dates, locations and additional details are available on the Hearing Information page.
