An early look at what’s in the tentative agreement with the U.S. DOJ mandating police reforms in Minneapolis

The agreement, as summarized below, includes the following provisions:

The agreement requires that MPD rewrite its use-of-force policies in the code of conduct to emphasize that its officers “promote the sanctity of life as the highest priority in their activities.”

Rank-and-file officers would have to use the lowest level of force needed to ensure their safety, stop an attack, make an arrest or prevent escape. They must consider before using force whether any non-compliance stems from a person’s age, size, physical condition, mental impairment, or language barrier.

Neck restraints and chokeholds are prohibited.

Any officer who carries a firearm must also carry at least one less-lethal weapon they have been trained on — whether in uniform or plainclothes. Chemical irritants should not be used on a person in a vehicle unless an imminent danger exists.

Federal oversight would require more rigorous use-of-force reporting by officers, who are expected to document specific details on every interaction in which they display or fire a weapon or cause physical injury.