A local police reform group said Wednesday that its canvassers had so far gathered about 1,100 complaints against Minneapolis police that it plans to turn over to the U.S. Justice Department, which is conducting a sprawling investigation of the department.
Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB), said at a news conference that about 35% of the complaints concerned lack of service by the department, about 40% dealt with allegations of excessive force and the remaining complaints covered a range of other issues.
The group also provided news media with a list of 11 instances, including dates, in which it alleged that Minneapolis police had engaged in harassment of canvassers. The incidents include occurrences where police patrol cars followed people as they canvassed.
The group met with police Chief Medaria Arradondo later in the day Wednesday.
After the meeting with Arradondo, Dave Bicking, a board member of the CUAPB, said that Arradondo said he was unaware of the alleged harassment and expressed concern. He said he would send a note out to his leadership team, according to Bicking.
On Wednesday night, MPD spokesman Garrett Parten said officers on patrol would be informed about the group's canvassing efforts. "We expect all MPD staff to support and protect First Amendment activity and community-building work in the course of their duties," he said in a statement.
The Justice Department is investigating whether Minneapolis police officers engaged in a "pattern and practice" of violating citizens' rights over the past decade, including during mental health-related calls and at last summer's protests over the murder of George Floyd.
Similar investigations in other cities have sometimes led to a consent decree requiring a police department to make substantive changes, with the changes overseen by a federally appointed monitor.
