Ballot Question That Would Dismantle MPLS Police Approved: READ

MINNEAPOLIS — The movement to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department notched a major victory Friday when the City Council approved a ballot question that proposes to change the city's charter.

The ballot question asks voters if they want to replace the police department with a "Department of Public Safety" controlled directly by the city.

The question will appear on all ballots in Minneapolis for the Nov. 8 election.

The City Council had to override a veto from Mayor Jacob Frey to get the ballot question approved. Frey criticized the council for approving language that "failed to meet the most basic standards of transparency."

"The ballot language leaves voters in the dark and our residents without essential information at the ballot box," Frey said in a news release.

The question on the ballot will read:

Department of Public Safety

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to strike and replace the Police Department with a Department of Public Safety which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, with administrative authority to be consistent with other city departments to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety?

Minneapolis voters will respond with a simple "Yes" or "No" on the ballot.

"Minneapolis is ready for a higher standard of public safety, and now residents will get to vote on their terms," Yes 4 Minneapolis, a police reform advocacy group, said in a news release Friday night.

"Like many times before, the status quo attempted to stop the will of the people. But today, democracy prevailed and now the people of Minneapolis will get to decide."

The movement to dismantle the department gained steam following the death of George Floyda t the hands of Minneapolis police. However, the push for reform hit several roadblocks in 2020.