Twins will continue having MPD work as security at games, will evaluate options for 2021

Tommy Wiita

Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco awaits a pitch delivered by New York Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia at Target Field in Minneapolis on July 22, 2019.[Tommy Wiita/KSTP]

On Friday, the Minnesota Twins announced they will continue having Minneapolis police work as security at Target Field in 2020.

"For the 2020 Major League Baseball season, the Twins will continue our past practice of screening and hiring individual off-duty Minneapolis police officers to assist our internal security team in keeping Target Field safe for our fans, our players and our employees. The officers selected in the past have consistently demonstrated our organizational principles and values; those selected this year will be held to the same standards. We have seen firsthand that there are individual officers within the MPD that are committed to creating a policing culture of accountability, respect, empathy and fairness that honors the individual rights of everyone," the team said in a statement.

The Twins add they are evaluating their options for the 2021 season based on "authentic progress toward significant reform within the Minneapolis Police Department and/or a community-embraced public safety model."

The Minneapolis Police Department has been under scrutiny since the death of George Floyd, and past events leading up to that Memorial Day incident. Others, such as Minneapolis Public Schools, the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis parks, have also taken a step back from using the police as an option for security at events or on their properties.

To see the full statement from the team, click here.

U of M to limit collaboration with Minneapolis police after George Floyd’s death