Minneapolis Mayor Frey Announces New Ban On No-Knock Warrants

MINNEAPOLIS — Mayor Jacob Frey Monday announced a new ban on the application for, and execution of, all no-knock search warrants in the city of Minneapolis.

The new policy also prevents Minneapolis police from requesting or responding to requests for no-knock warrants from other law enforcement agencies.

The new restrictions are "among the most forward-looking and extensive in the nation," the mayor's office.

"Minneapolis has an opportunity to be a leader in warrant and entry policy and best practices nationwide," said Frey.

"We’ve consulted with national experts, listened to community members, and from that feedback we’ve made impactful changes that will help keep both our residents and officers safe. The overarching goal is preservation of life during the execution of search warrants – and this policy moves us in that direction."

The new policy does the following, according to Frey:

• Prohibits the application for and execution of all no-knock search warrants by the Minneapolis Police Department
• Requires that officers must continuously knock and announce their presence and purpose prior to entry and implements a minimum wait time of 20 seconds for any warrant and 30 seconds for warrants executed during nighttime hours (8 p.m. until 7 a.m., as defined by state statute)
• Creates a new risk classification and evaluation system for knock-and-announce search warrants
• Introduces new, safer entry tactics to deploy when entering a home
• Enacts a more robust and thorough internal review and accountability process

No-knock warrants came under heavy scrutiny after Minneapolis police shot and killed Amir Locke while using a no-knock search warrant. Locke was not named in the search warrant and was not a suspect in the investigation.

Frey himself drew criticism after Locke's death for falsely claiming that he banned no-knock warrants during his reelection campaign.