MINNEAPOLIS, MN - After years of defunding the police, the Minneapolis City Council has approved a contract that will make Minneapolis police officers among the highest paid in the region.
According to ABC News, the contract includes 22 percent pay increases over three years. The move to increase the officers' pay highlights how many police departments across the country are raising officers' compensation to combat retirements and resignations. Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement, "We are turning a corner. Recognizing that we need good, community-oriented policing in our city."
A majority of those on the council and other city leaders praised what they are calling a "groundbreaking compromise" in a city "still reeling" from the death of George Floyd and the aftermath of the "defund the police" movement. Other council members expressed frustration that some of their most "ambitious proposals to radically overhaul" the police department following the death of Floyd have fizzled.
After the 8-to-4 vote, Mayor Frey said, "Recognizing that the concepts of both safety and change are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they have to go hand in hand. That's ultimately what this contract does."
After the death of Floyd, Minneapolis became ground zero for the "defund the police movement," with protesters calling for the abolishment of policing. The protests and riots, night after night culminated with the burning of a police station and an increase in violent crime left the city on edge.
Many officers retired or went on disability, stating that they were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from the unrest. Even though activists did not succeed in getting rid of the police department and replacing it with a department of public safety, the force remains well below full strength.
According to data provided by the department, the force has just over 560 officers. That number is drastically down from the more than 800 offices before Floyd's death and start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, the department launched a $1 million recruiting campaign. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said that the pay increases are critical for retaining officers and attract new hires. With the new contract approved, starting salaries for new hires will top $90,000 per year.
O'Hara said in a statement, "While increasing pay is certainly not the panacea to any staffing crisis anywhere, I think it's without question that this police department is the most scrutinized in the country, period. The vast majority of cops in this town have not felt supported over the last few years."
The new contract also includes some police accountability measures, such as a policy that allows O'Hara to keep officers accused of misconduct off the streets for a longer period during pending investigations. Since 2020, Minneapolis police officers have been dealing with higher caseloads, which have caused longer response times. Officers have also dealt with traumatic events, including the May shooting death of an officer.
Critics of the contract and some council members that voted for it said that the department, overall, still needs "major changes." City Council President Elliott Payne said that he voted for the contract because he feared rejecting the proposal would put the policy victories it included in jeopardy.
He said, "This contract does not go nearly far enough, it really doesn't. Jeremiah Ellison, one of the council members who voted against the contract said that he did not believe its measures would improve staffing. He said, "If this contract passes, and if and when staffing is not resolved by the contract, I'm sort of curious to know what will be the next frontier. What will be the next Schrondinger's contract that we will debate."
Aurin Chowdury, a city council member who said she struggled over her decision before deciding to vote for the contract, said residents have expressed frustration over both staffing and the pace of change. She said, "There isn't solid consensus in our community around this contract, that staffing is a priority but feels in contest with reform and change."
Chuck Wexler, executive director for the Police Executive Research Forum, a nonprofit policing think tank, said police pay has been on the rise since 2020. He added, "I actually have not seen anything like what is occurring in American policing in terms of compensation. And it's a reflection of how far municipalities have to go in order to hire the next generation of police officers."
According to ABC News, the contract includes 22 percent pay increases over three years. The move to increase the officers' pay highlights how many police departments across the country are raising officers' compensation to combat retirements and resignations. Mayor Jacob Frey said in a statement, "We are turning a corner. Recognizing that we need good, community-oriented policing in our city."
A majority of those on the council and other city leaders praised what they are calling a "groundbreaking compromise" in a city "still reeling" from the death of George Floyd and the aftermath of the "defund the police" movement. Other council members expressed frustration that some of their most "ambitious proposals to radically overhaul" the police department following the death of Floyd have fizzled.
After the 8-to-4 vote, Mayor Frey said, "Recognizing that the concepts of both safety and change are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they have to go hand in hand. That's ultimately what this contract does."
After the death of Floyd, Minneapolis became ground zero for the "defund the police movement," with protesters calling for the abolishment of policing. The protests and riots, night after night culminated with the burning of a police station and an increase in violent crime left the city on edge.
Many officers retired or went on disability, stating that they were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from the unrest. Even though activists did not succeed in getting rid of the police department and replacing it with a department of public safety, the force remains well below full strength.
According to data provided by the department, the force has just over 560 officers. That number is drastically down from the more than 800 offices before Floyd's death and start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March, the department launched a $1 million recruiting campaign. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said that the pay increases are critical for retaining officers and attract new hires. With the new contract approved, starting salaries for new hires will top $90,000 per year.
O'Hara said in a statement, "While increasing pay is certainly not the panacea to any staffing crisis anywhere, I think it's without question that this police department is the most scrutinized in the country, period. The vast majority of cops in this town have not felt supported over the last few years."
The new contract also includes some police accountability measures, such as a policy that allows O'Hara to keep officers accused of misconduct off the streets for a longer period during pending investigations. Since 2020, Minneapolis police officers have been dealing with higher caseloads, which have caused longer response times. Officers have also dealt with traumatic events, including the May shooting death of an officer.
Critics of the contract and some council members that voted for it said that the department, overall, still needs "major changes." City Council President Elliott Payne said that he voted for the contract because he feared rejecting the proposal would put the policy victories it included in jeopardy.
He said, "This contract does not go nearly far enough, it really doesn't. Jeremiah Ellison, one of the council members who voted against the contract said that he did not believe its measures would improve staffing. He said, "If this contract passes, and if and when staffing is not resolved by the contract, I'm sort of curious to know what will be the next frontier. What will be the next Schrondinger's contract that we will debate."
Aurin Chowdury, a city council member who said she struggled over her decision before deciding to vote for the contract, said residents have expressed frustration over both staffing and the pace of change. She said, "There isn't solid consensus in our community around this contract, that staffing is a priority but feels in contest with reform and change."
Chuck Wexler, executive director for the Police Executive Research Forum, a nonprofit policing think tank, said police pay has been on the rise since 2020. He added, "I actually have not seen anything like what is occurring in American policing in terms of compensation. And it's a reflection of how far municipalities have to go in order to hire the next generation of police officers."
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Comments
2024-07-23T15:34-0500 | Comment by: Cliff
Waiting for Minneapolis to become Dearborn, MI. Say prayer for Minneapolis citizens and, while we are at it, St Paul.