MN Supreme Court Reinstates Minneapolis Police Ballot Quesiton

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Supreme Court Thursday reinstated a ballot question about dismantling and replacing the Minneapolis Police Department. The move reverses a lower-court decision from earlier in the week that struck the ballot question down.

Hennepin County Judge Jamie Anderson Tuesday struck the question down because it was "unreasonable and misleading." The state Supreme Court, however, disagreed.

Early voting in Minneapolis starts Friday, and residents will be able to vote on the following question:

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to remove the Police Department and replace it with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety, with those specific functions to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance; which will not be subject to exclusive mayoral power over its establishment, maintenance, and command; and which could include licensed peace officers (police officers), if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?

Yes

No

Explanatory Note:

This amendment would create a Department of Public Safety combining public safety functions through a comprehensive public health approach to be determined by the Mayor and Council. The department would be led by a Commissioner nominated by the Mayor and appointed by the Council. The Police Department, and its chief, would be removed from the City Charter. The Public Safety Department could include police officers, but the minimum funding requirement would be eliminated."

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