In the wake of May 2020 civil rights protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, the city of Minneapolis will vote on Tuesday on whether to replace their police department with a Department of Public Safety.
The measure, which will need support from 51% of Minneapolis residents in order to pass, asks if the City Charter should be amended to replace the Police Department with a Department of Public Safety to the delivery of functions by the Department of Public Safety’.
The Department of Public Safety would combine social and medical workers that will employ comprehensive public health approach and its specific functions are to be determined by the Mayor and City Council by ordinance, the measure explains.
Voters will weigh a ballot measure – which has already divided residents – known as City Question 2 during Minneapolis municipal race on Tuesday.
Amid calls from activists and left-leaning politicians to “defund the police”, opponents argue it will fail to address rising crime across the city. According to data from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, violent crime in Minneapolis last year surged nearly 17%.
As residents fear for their safety and Democratic worry about GOP weaponizing the issue in next year’s congressional elections, the split illustrates the tricky math around overhauling policing in major US cities.
After a district judge tried to block it, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in September that the measure could remain on the ballot after one of the high profile figures in favor of replacing the department, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, blamed police officers for the city’s increased crime and for not fulfilling their oath of office.
Among those who have opposed the ballot measure are Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Gov. Tim Walz and current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is running for a second term.
Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter, and sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the death of Floyd.
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