Minneapolis Has Fallen
A city bent on self-destruction nixes funds to restore essential public safety staffing
Rejection of essential recruitment and retention funding
The Minneapolis Police Department was just kicked in the gut again by the Minneapolis City Council. On November 17, 2023, at a special meeting called by Mayor Frey, they voted 8 to 5 to deny retention bonuses for officers and sign on incentives for recruits.
Official city figures place police staffing 359 positions short. This in a city that has had a zenith of 892 officers in May of 2020, then enduring a mass exodus of nearly 400 officers to wind up with staffing of 512 in October of 2023. KSTP reports: MPD currently has a 38% vacancy rate, according to the department.
“There’s 38 members [currently] eligible to retire, and over 100 next year,” said (Chief Brian) O’Hara. “We have not stopped getting smaller.”
The proposed tentative agreement between the union and the city would have provided up to $15.3 million in sign-on and retention bonuses that would come from state public safety aid funding, and apparently not from scarce city general fund dollars.
"I think just throwing money out there is not the solution?" (Council member Jamal) Osman said, noting the money could be sent to a community safety center within a newly approved third precinct site location. "We can use this money to be more effective… than hoping we will get recruitment."
Council conversations frequently touch upon the necessity to rebuild the Third Precinct to include: ‘Council member Elliot Payne, a no vote, called for furthered community healing following the trauma police caused to the community, before "building police another fortress," saying, "I need to give pause to reflect on how we have healed from that trauma… The way this real estate deal has come together does not do that."’
A dangerously deluded governing body
The 2020 in-custody death of George Floyd was the genesis of the absolute betrayal of the City of Minneapolis police officers by its own government. Mobs of looters and terrorists stole, burnt, and destroyed the emblems of civilized conduct and behavior.
Terrorism is the use of violence for a political end. No looter will deny that they were sending a message.
Officers were ordered to engage rioters without riot gear except for helmets. They were told to observe and report while dozens of serious felonies, including arson, are being committed in plain view before them.
The Third Precinct was politically sacrificed in a failed attempt to appease a bloodthirsty mob of rioters and arsonists. Staff in the building were ordered to evacuate and abandon the defensible building and many were forced to flee murderous mobs on foot. Citywide, Minneapolis became a virtual warzone for weeks on end requiring national guard troops to assist in restoring order.
It must be remembered that the thousands of violent rioters, among the tens of thousands of non-violent protesters, were never investigated, located, and arrested for their crimes. They live in the conceit of forcing the police to flee for their lives. They live among the public the police currently serve, ready to rise again.
Three years on, the Minneapolis City Council functions as a government body oblivious that their own policies and resolutions have created the wake of destruction that they are expected to govern through.
Their response to their own public safety recruiting and retention crisis is completely counterintuitive. It is the absolute opposite of an objectively reasonable response. They have hit rock bottom and begun to dig.
The Fall of Minneapolis
I cannot recommend this film highly enough. I’ve eagerly anticipated the premier of this documentary based on the book ‘They’re Lying’ by Liz Collin. It is free to view on their website and on the streaming platform Rumble.
The documentary is distinct from the book. The book has its own richness including the ‘fly on the wall’ perspective concerning the early decision-making processes and the terror targeted on people whose suburban home is doxed and surrounded by violent protestors disguised as ‘demonstrators.’
The film accomplishes its purpose better than any other documentary in this genre. The filmmakers just tell the truth and expect it to accomplish its purpose. Your pulse will race with anxiety and betrayal as the officers are expected to abandon the precinct while under siege. It employs firsthand testimony to tell its story.
Perhaps your mind is made up based on what you already know and have seen. It could be that all you see is mens rea and callous dehumanizing conduct. Maybe you see poor technique. Too many people told the world that they just didn’t like the look on Chauvin’s face. There’s a lot more to the story.
Regardless, if you have any concern about public safety or the City of Minneapolis, this film lets you put the facts in their undisputable order and sequence, which, excluding Collin’s book, has never been done. Whatever your position, if you watch it, I trust you will be compelled to share it with someone in your circle.
Please keep all officers in your prayers, especially Twin Cities cops.
References
https://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-police-incentives-voted-down-by-city-council-following-debate
The tentative agreement would provide up to $15.3 million in sign-on and retention bonuses that would come from state public safety aid funding.
I sincerely hope MPD can survive the traitorous city council and it's lack of reality. Stay safe please my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thanks for writing this!