The Upper Midwest Law Center (UMLC) celebrated the Minneapolis City Council’s vote today to ratify the contract with the Police Officers’ Federation of Minneapolis (POFM). This new contract will help address the ongoing shortage of police officers in the city, currently down around 300 officers from the required 731 as mandated by the city charter.
On August 17, 2020, UMLC, on behalf of eight residents and community leaders, filed suit against the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Frey in Hennepin County District Court alleging they failed to uphold their legal duties to fund and employ an adequate police force as required under the Minneapolis City Charter. UMLC won this legal fight with a victory in the Minnesota Supreme Court on June 20, 2022.
The Supreme Court’s ruling highlighted the critical need for the city to fulfill its legal duties to ensure public safety by maintaining the mandated number of police officers. UMLC sent the City a letter in December 2023 after the council rejected prior efforts by Mayor Frey and the POFM to bolster declining police numbers.
“The Minneapolis City Council’s vote today is directly tied to our work to ensure that the City addresses their dire officer shortage. This is a victory for the safety of residents, for the City, and for the rule of law,” said James Dickey, UMLC Senior Counsel. “This vote was absolutely necessary to follow the Minnesota Supreme Court’s 2022 decision because the Mayor must have the tools necessary to hire the officers the Charter requires. Minneapolis residents deserve a fully staffed police department that can effectively protect and serve the community.”
UMLC remains committed to holding the City of Minneapolis accountable to its charter obligations and will continue to advocate for measures that ensure the safety and well-being of its residents.
