The Minneapolis Police Department and the Unity Community Mediation Team announced the signing of an agreement on policing issues last week. The Memorandum of Agreement, which was signed on Thurs., Dec. 4th at the Glover Sudduth Center, was mediated by the Department of Justice Community Relations Service. The Minneapolis City Council also received and approved the agreement on Thursday.
The agreement addresses issues such as use of force, police community relations, mental health issues, diversifying of the workplace, cultural awareness and sensitivity, racially biased policing accountability of police officers and a host of other issues including training of police officers. The agreement creates a Police Community Relations Council to build relationships between the Department and community leaders and organizations and to monitor and oversee compliance of the agreement.
The Unity Community Mediation Team is a group of Minneapolis community organizations interested in police community relations and the improvement of policing and public safety in Minneapolis. The co-chairs of the Unity Mediation Team were William Means and Rev. Ian D. Bethel, Sr.
December 8, 2003