Estelle Timar-Wilcox

Local officials say federal agents are still making arrests and many residents are still afraid.

For NPR News, I'm Estelle Timar-Wilcox in Minneapolis.

Well, they found a pattern of racial discrimination and excessive use of force, particularly against Black and Native American people. They also noted inappropriate responses when people were experiencing a behavioral health crisis. City officials have been in talks with the Department of Justice since then to try to reach this consent agreement.

Well, they found a pattern of racial discrimination and excessive use of force, particularly against Black and Native American people. They also noted inappropriate responses when people were experiencing a behavioral health crisis. City officials have been in talks with the Department of Justice since then to try to reach this consent agreement.

Well, they found a pattern of racial discrimination and excessive use of force, particularly against Black and Native American people. They also noted inappropriate responses when people were experiencing a behavioral health crisis. City officials have been in talks with the Department of Justice since then to try to reach this consent agreement.

And the state at the same time reached a separate settlement with the city about a year ago, also mandating several reforms, which the department is now working towards.

And the state at the same time reached a separate settlement with the city about a year ago, also mandating several reforms, which the department is now working towards.

And the state at the same time reached a separate settlement with the city about a year ago, also mandating several reforms, which the department is now working towards.

Well, the department will have to draft a new use of force policy. It bans chokeholds and neck restraints and limits the use of pepper spray. One of the big concerns centered around investigations into a complaint against an officer, those will now continue even if an officer quits or retires.

Well, the department will have to draft a new use of force policy. It bans chokeholds and neck restraints and limits the use of pepper spray. One of the big concerns centered around investigations into a complaint against an officer, those will now continue even if an officer quits or retires.

Well, the department will have to draft a new use of force policy. It bans chokeholds and neck restraints and limits the use of pepper spray. One of the big concerns centered around investigations into a complaint against an officer, those will now continue even if an officer quits or retires.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark called the settlement a critical step for constitutional policing.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark called the settlement a critical step for constitutional policing.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark called the settlement a critical step for constitutional policing.

Well, Clark says they do, and she noted success stories in other cities that have consent decrees, like Seattle, which she said drastically reduced the use of force, and New Orleans, which reached its lowest rate of critical incidents in 2023. And here in Minneapolis, lots of police accountability activists were actually pushing for a consent decree. Michelle Gross was one of them.

Well, Clark says they do, and she noted success stories in other cities that have consent decrees, like Seattle, which she said drastically reduced the use of force, and New Orleans, which reached its lowest rate of critical incidents in 2023. And here in Minneapolis, lots of police accountability activists were actually pushing for a consent decree. Michelle Gross was one of them.

Well, Clark says they do, and she noted success stories in other cities that have consent decrees, like Seattle, which she said drastically reduced the use of force, and New Orleans, which reached its lowest rate of critical incidents in 2023. And here in Minneapolis, lots of police accountability activists were actually pushing for a consent decree. Michelle Gross was one of them.

Even if it isn't ideal, even if it isn't perfect, we need this agreement to go forward. Even so, activists say it's not an end-all solution to police brutality.

Even if it isn't ideal, even if it isn't perfect, we need this agreement to go forward. Even so, activists say it's not an end-all solution to police brutality.

Even if it isn't ideal, even if it isn't perfect, we need this agreement to go forward. Even so, activists say it's not an end-all solution to police brutality.