The ongoing civil rights investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department could result in federal oversight intended to force change, but law enforcement officials who have been through this process say it also results in political fallout and deep divisions within the ranks.

Over the last three months, investigators from the United States Department of Justice have met with city leaders and the police chief in Minneapolis, all of whom have publicly said they will fully cooperate with the "pattern and practice" probe.

Similar investigations in other cities have led to court-ordered reforms that have lasted a decade or longer.


In New Mexico, the federal government sued the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) after finding its officers had a pattern and practice of using excessive force. Both sides agreed to a court-approved settlement, commonly called the "consent decree." The document ordered APD to make hundreds of changes to policies and procedures.


"It would not have changed if it wasn't so forcefully put upon us," said Chief Harold Medina, who took over the department in March.

But seven years in, the department continues to struggle to meet those new standards. In May, the independent monitor overseeing the reforms warned APD's recent lack of progress could lead to a "catastrophic failure," in part because of a counter-culture within the department working against the reform efforts.


Read the full Part III report of our investigative series "Policing the Blue": https://kstp.com/news/policing-the-blue-resistance-to-change-from-officers-could-follow-department-of-justice-investigation-of-minneapolis-police/6165573/?cat=1