The city of Minneapolis will consider bringing in police officers from outside its jurisdiction as the city faces a shortage of officers.
These officers would form Joint Enforcement Teams and would primarily respond to violent 911 calls. The proposal as it stands, which requires the approval of the mayor and City Council, would have the teams begin on Sunday and stay until the end of the year.
John Elder, a spokesman for the Minneapolis police, said, “We’re not gonna be having these people out taking bicycle theft reports. These are going to be people out combating crime issues.”
The city is facing a shortage of police officers, with an unusually large number of officers leaving the force following the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a black man, died in Minneapolis police custody earlier this year after a white officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. His death sparked protests and riots across the country.
After Floyd’s death, a majority of the City Council has promised it will work toward “ending” the Minneapolis police.
The proposed measure to bring in outside help will come for a vote before the City Council’s Policy and Government Oversight Committee on Tuesday. The Star Tribune reported that Mayor Jacob Frey’s office said he supports the arrangement.
