Minneapolis police swear in first Somali-American, first non-citizen as police officers

MINNEAPOLIS, MN- The Minneapolis Police Department lost hundreds of police officers in the aftermath of George Floyd's death because, quite frankly, people don’t want to stay where they are not wanted. Therefore, in such an environment, you will seemingly take whatever you can get. 

Last week, following a graduation ceremony, the department swore in nearly two dozen more officers, and city leaders bragged there were some “firsts” becoming new Minneapolis police officers, according to KSTP-5. 

“Just as they’re about to take their oaths today, before all of you and before God, I know that i have a sacred obligation to do all I can for them,” Chief Brian O’Hara said at the ceremony. “I pledge to you tonight that I will do everything within my power to take care of them.” 

Among those swearing in were eleven new recruits and twelve lateral transfers from other departments, including some with over a decade of experience. The first-time officers include a Somali woman, the first ever hired by the MPD as a cop, and a non-citizen permanent resident. 

O’Hara explained that a recent law change allows a permanent resident to become a police officer in Minnesota. The new officer, Lesly Vera, moved to Minneapolis from Mexico when she was four. 

Vera didn’t indicate any lifelong ambition to become a police officer but instead appeared to see herself as filling a void among her nationality. 

“I didn’t see anybody that really looked like me, Latina,” she said. “I want to have that face for my people.” 

O’Hara supported Vera’s appointment as a police officer. 

“There may be people who question it, but that’s completely ridiculous. There’s, like I mentioned, there is a history in this country of people immediately on arrival to the country, enlisting in the military and serving,” O’Hara said. “Somebody like [Officer Vera], who has been here essentially her entire life, absolutely is entitled to protect her community in the same way that anyone else here has, and we’re honored to have her.” 

O’Hara didn’t explain why Vera has not yet become a naturalized U.S. citizen. 

The Somali-American officer, Ikran Mohamed, discussed her decision to join the Minneapolis PD. 

“This is what I wanted to do, and it was very challenging. That’s why I’m here. And I want to be that somebody, [to] be a role model for girls who look like me. So they can say, I can do it too,” Mohamed said. 

The mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, said the additional officers will help make the department “look more like” the city. 

“It’s moving. It’s emotional. I mean, I talked about the hope in the room, from a personal standppint as mayor of the city, it gives me a lot of hope,” Frey said. “Our police department is looking more and more like the communities that we are charged with protecting and serving.”