The Department of Justice is withdrawing from proposed oversight of the Minneapolis Police Department, raising alarms about the future of accountability five years after George Floyd’s death.
At a Glance
- The DOJ is stepping away from planned police oversight in Minneapolis and Louisville
- Minneapolis lost nearly half its force after 2020 protests and is struggling to rebuild
- Attorney Ben Crump says justice is now harder to obtain, even with video evidence
- City officials pledge to continue reforms without federal enforcement
Minneapolis Police Reform Hits a Crossroads
Five years after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer ignited global calls for reform, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced it is withdrawing from proposed oversight agreements meant to enforce systemic changes in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The move comes amid ongoing efforts to rebuild the department’s depleted ranks and fractured relationship with the community.
Watch a report: Minneapolis PD Five Years After Floyd
In the wake of 2020 protests, the department lost approximately half of its officers. Chief Brian O’Hara, who assumed leadership in 2022, is tasked with restoring morale and trust. While new recruits—many of them people of color—are entering the force, O’Hara concedes that rebuilding public confidence remains an uphill battle.
Federal Oversight Abandoned
The DOJ’s exit from the consent decree it previously sought has stirred criticism from civil rights advocates who say the move undermines the national commitment to meaningful reform. The timing—on the five-year anniversary of Floyd’s death—only intensifies public scrutiny.
“This is going to play out that, ‘well, Trump got rid of it, so they’re not doing it,’ and nobody’s going to hear anything else, which is unfortunate,” O’Hara told local media.
While federal involvement is ending, Minneapolis will remain subject to a state-level consent decree with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Officials, including Mayor Jacob Frey, have pledged to continue reforms, citing new civilian-led oversight bureaus and internal transparency initiatives.
Ben Crump: “Justice Is Still Elusive”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represented the Floyd family and many others, says despite the widespread adoption of body cameras and smartphone footage, obtaining justice remains a steep climb. “It’s now harder than ever,” Crump argues, pointing to recent cases like the mistrial in the Patrick Lyoya shooting and the acquittal of officers in Tyre Nichols’ death.
“There’s a whole lot of open wounds still here in the city,” said O’Hara. “And while there has been some healing, not everybody’s healed, not everything has improved.”
Trust, Accountability Still in Question
Efforts to stabilize MPD’s image include diversifying the force and reinvesting in affected precincts like the third, which was burned during the 2020 unrest. While officer morale may be on the rise, the gulf between police and public remains significant. O’Hara admitted that some officers discourage others from joining the department, citing community resentment: “They tell them, ‘Don’t come here, everybody hates us’.”
The decision to pull federal oversight has cast uncertainty over the broader national reform movement. Advocates fear that without federal pressure, local efforts may lose momentum. As Minneapolis and the country mark five years since George Floyd’s death, the nation confronts a troubling question: without oversight, can meaningful police reform truly endure?
