Star Tribune Ed. Board: Vote 'No' On Dismantle Police Question

MINNEAPOLIS — The editorial board for the state's largest newspaper endorsed voting "no" on a ballot question in Minneapolis that would dismantle the city's police department and replace it with a new "Department of Public Safety."

The ballot question was crafted by progressive city council members that believe the path to true police reform requires rebuilding policing and public safety from the ground up.

But the Star Tribune's editorial board said that the proposal would not bring reform, but instead "chaos and infighting."

"There simply is no plan for public safety in Minnesota's largest city and economic engine if the ballot measure is approved," the board wrote.

"We urge Minneapolis residents to vote no on City Question 2, and instead to demand genuine reforms that include input by the community and all the hard discussions needed to determine how to reimagine law enforcement."

All Minneapolis voters will be faced asked to decide on the ballot question on Election Day, which is next Tuesday:

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 measure will pass with a simple majority.

Read the entire editorial here.

Also read: Early Voting In Minneapolis: What To Know For Election Day 2021