A new progress report from an independent evaluator says the Minneapolis Police Department is making solid progress toward improvement, but still needs to work on coordination and communication within its ranks and with other city agencies.
Effective Law Enforcement for All (ELEFA) was hired in 2023 by the City as part of a settlement agreement following an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR). The Evaluation Plan, as part of the monitoring by ELEFA, is designed to track actions taken by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), the City of Minneapolis and MDHR to ensure compliance with the settlement agreement. The Northeaster has previously reported on the organization’s work in the city.
This third report specifically reports on the review period of April 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025. During that time, the executive summary of the report says both MPD and the city “…have made measurable and meaningful progress in laying the foundation necessary to achieve the Settlement Agreement’s (SA) goals.”
However, the summary follows this in saying that further progress “has been hindered by lack of coordination within the MPD and with other City entities, lack of communication by MPD leadership concerning implementation, overburdened staff, and lack of resources.” The report also notes that the challenges are not attributed to a lack of commitment by the city or the MPD.
The time period evaluated in this report, notably, is several months before the official start of Operation Metro Surge, where thousands of immigration enforcement officers conducted operations throughout the Twin Cities.
In the letter from MDHR accom panying the report, officials addressed enforcement operations, saying they recognize that City and MPD leadership are able to “communicate a vision of a public safety system grounded in humanity and civil rights.”
“Their vision is on display as Minnesota is facing extreme public safety challenges in the face of federal immigration actions,” the letter reads in part. “As this tragedy is occurring, City and MPD leadership continue to reiterate a deep commitment to the work they are undertaking as part of this consent decree – and have publicly declared full ownership of this transformational work.”
A bulletin from the city also lays out some of the challenges that are listed in the report, along with the steps taken to address them.
Challenges include a lack of coordination and implementation-related communication within the MPD and with other City entities and a lack of resources within the department leading to overburdened staff and delays in policy drafting process.
To address communication gaps, the MPD says it has expanded internal feedback sessions to twice a month and increased information sharing through virtual roll calls, newsletters and leadership updates, while also improving officer access to updated procedures through a new centralized policy hub. City officials also reported more consistent coordination between MPD, the Office of Community Safety and other city entities involved in reform work.
As for staffing shortages and limited administrative resources, MPD says it has restructured its Implementation Unit, added leadership roles overseeing Internal Affairs and Constitutional Policing and hired additional policy and training staff.
“Comprehensive police reform is a complex and challenging process that requires years, not months, of dedicated effort, and we value ELEFA’s independent role in assessing our progress as well as areas where continued focus is needed,” a statement from the city reads in part. “We remain fully committed to carrying out this work by strengthening policies, delivering meaningful training, and ensuring resources are aligned and used effectively to support lasting, fair, and constitutional policing in Minneapolis.”