Minneapolis City Council member reconsiders forming new public safety department

Just four months after Minneapolis voters decided against replacing the police department with a department of public safety, a city council member introduced a proposal for a new public safety department on Thursday.

Councilmember Elliot Payne, Ward 1, introduced the new measure in a city council meeting.

“I cannot accept the death of Amir Locke as the cost of doing business as usual. I know we can keep our communities safe while avoiding these types of tragedies,” Payne said.

The police shooting death of Amir Locke is bringing the question of public safety back to the forefront.

“We can do better. The mayor and the leadership can do better,” Jamal Osman, Ward 6 Minneapolis City Council member, said in Thursday’s meeting.

Payne is hoping to establish a new public safety department.

“This is not a rehash of the debate we concluded during the last election cycle nor is it an effort to eliminate the police department,” Payne said.

He said his goal is to work with council members to build unanimous support for a better system of public safety.

Councilmember Robin Wonsley-Worlobah, Ward 2, said if a new public safety department is put in place, it needs to be under different leadership. She’s calling for the mayor to resign.

“MPD has proven that they will not voluntary change. The mayor has proven incapable of ineffective oversight,” Wonsley-Worlobah said.

Councilmember Andrew Johnson, Ward 12, explained in the meeting there are multiple layers to solving the public safety issue.

“We can’t just take a reactive approach to public safety,” Johnson said. “There are so many other components beyond where we continue to make investments whether that’s affordable housing or youth activities.”

Some councilmembers said a new public safety department could be a part of the answer, but it’s not the only one.

“If that becomes our reality, we cannot fool ourselves into thinking that’s going to end the violence in our communities,” Andrea Jenkins, Ward 8 Minneapolis City Councilmember, said.

The language of the ordinance will be available at the next Minneapolis Public Health and Safety meeting.