[content warning/trigger warning: gun violence, police violence, murder, anti-Black and anti-Native abuse, r*pe, assault]

1821

The Metropolitan Police Department, the first municipal police force in the world, is created in London. The first American police force forms in Boston 17 years later.



1867

Minneapolis incorporates and the City Council establishes the Minneapolis Police Department, which takes only 36 years to earn the title “The Shame of Minneapolis” due to its legendary corruption and racketeering.

1903

The Citizens’ Alliance, a rightwing group representing downtown business interests, forms and spends the next half-century increasingly cementing the Minneapolis Police Department as its personal militia for enforcing anti-labor interests.

1934

Minneapolis police open fire downtown during the Minneapolis General Strike and kill two workers on Bloody Friday. Downtown business interests later invent Aquatennial to overshadow the annual “Teamster Picnics” celebrating the successful strike.

1963

The first Civilian Review Board is established and fails to create meaningful structural change, the same outcome as any other reform-based approach to follow.

1968

Fed up with racist police interactions, community members form the Black Patrol, Soul Force and AIM Patrol to intervene and de-escalate potential violence. After AIM Patrol’s first six months, the percentage of the Native population in jail dropped from 70 percent to 10 percent. Community patrols predate the police and continue to this day.

1989

Minneapolis police kill Black elders Lillian Wallace and Lloyd Smalley during a botched SWAT raid, a not-uncommon occurrence that “tarnished” the city’s image. Enraged residents, including the current Minnesota Attorney General, demand reforms.

1990-1991

In response to a call, Minneapolis police shoot and kill 17-year-old Black resident Tycel Nelson as he is running away. Enraged residents demand reform. Violent crime peaks in Minneapolis and America and steadily declines for the next three decades without interruption.

1992-1993

Metro Transit police severely beat an elderly Black man for lack of fare, and furious youth later ambush and kill Minneapolis police officer Jerry Haaf. The Minneapolis Police Department begins terrorizing residents, using tactics including Rough Rides of Native residents, kidnapping, rape, extortion and opening fire at Little Earth.

2006

In response to a call, Minneapolis police shoot unarmed Black resident Dominic Felder in the back, killing him in the midst of a nervous breakdown. Later that year Minneapolis police run over 19-year-old Hmong resident Fong Lee on his bicycle and shoot him 3 times in the back, then shoot another 5 times more as his body lay on the ground. The officer involved is acquitted.

2007

Five Black Minneapolis police officers – including the current Chief of Police – sue the department for racial discrimination, settling with the city for a record $2 million. The majority of the money is earmarked for (but not required to be spent on) “reform.”

2010

In response to a call, Minneapolis police kill 28-year-old Black resident David Smith in the midst of a mental health crisis downtown, suffocating him to death under a prone restraint. Later that year Hmong resident Jason Yang dies under mysterious circumstances after encountering the Minneapolis police downtown at bar close. Violent crime in Minneapolis bottoms out and remains at historic lows throughout the decade.

2013

In response to a call, Minneapolis police corner unarmed 22-year-old Black resident Terrance Franklin in a Lyn-Lake basement, shoot and kill him. An hour later Minneapolis police run over and kill resident Ivan Romero in the intersection of 26th and Blaisdell while on the way to the scene. The then-new (lesbian) Chief of Police, who had previously sued the department for sex discrimination, says reform is coming.

2014

#Pointergate becomes the first baseless local performative law-and-order outrage in the new Black Lives Matter era. Glen Taylor, a North Mankato-based downtown Minneapolis sports billionaire, purchases the local paper of record, promising a deliberate rightward lurch over time.

2015

Minneapolis police kill 24-year-old Black resident Jamar Clark, shooting him in the face in response to an ambulance call. Residents occupy the nearby Fourth Precinct for the next 18 days to protest and build community, during which the Minneapolis police point assault weapons in the faces of current and future City Council members.

2017

In response to a call, Minneapolis police shoot and kill 40-year-old white resident and Australian national Justine Ruszczyk Damond, sparking international outrage.

2018

In response to a call, Minneapolis police shoot and kill 31-year-old Black resident Thurman Blevins as he is running away. Six months later Minneapolis police shoot and kill 36-year-old Black resident Travis Jordan in his front yard during a welfare check. Three weeks later the City Council votes down the mayor’s request to increase the police budget by $12 million annually, choosing instead to invest in upstream safety measures.

2019 (according to the Minneapolis-based Star-Tribune)

March

April

May

July

May 16 police chief: happy to report a reduction in shootings and violent crime. July 17 police chief: "never before seen rises in shootings." Please put 400 more cops in the budget. pic.twitter.com/3o7vhOekKI — Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) July 30, 2019

August

A line of Minneapolis police on horses stands between thousands of protesters and the entrance to the Target Center where Trump is speaking.https://t.co/HoLblfgAf2 pic.twitter.com/9b2E3PdB9P — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 10, 2019

September

Friday, September 6, 5:38 p.m.

Majority of Minneapolis residents back hiring more patrol officers

By Editorial Board

Citywide survey shows strong support for adding officers to the overburdened force.



— n.b. the survey in question is a push poll paid for by the Downtown Council (Steve Cramer) and Chamber of Commerce

I’m told one Chamber of Commerce question about Minneapolis cops that NOT released to @StribOpinion was whether structural police reforms are needed BEFORE spending more money. “Yes” polled just as high as the publicly released results. Wonder why the Chamber didn’t release that? — David Brauer (@dbrauer) September 9, 2019

October

Business community leads PR campaign stoking crime fears then worry the city is acquiring a bad reputation. — Wedge LIVE!™ (@WedgeLIVE) October 3, 2019

Friday, October 4 , 7:32 p.m.

Minneapolis North Siders air concerns about troubled street corner

N. 21st and Aldrich has been plagued by drugs, shootings and violence.



— tl;dr “These aren’t robots, these aren’t people who are unreachable, but we can’t be afraid to approach these guys,” said Pastor Edrin Williams of Sanctuary Covenant Church.



, 7:32 p.m. N. 21st and Aldrich has been plagued by drugs, shootings and violence. — tl;dr “These aren’t robots, these aren’t people who are unreachable, but we can’t be afraid to approach these guys,” said Pastor Edrin Williams of Sanctuary Covenant Church. Monday, October 7, 11:14 a.m.

Twin Cities property tax hikes take biggest bite in less wealthy areas

Mpls., St. Paul proposals could bring 15% increase to some poorer areas.



— n.b. the police are the third-most expensive budget item after Public Works and Capital Improvement

Why isn't this an article about change #MNLeg could take? State could adjust rates so those with least don't pay the most and give more rev tools to Mn Cities.https://t.co/O7jhnu7gV7 — Elizabeth Glidden (@elizglid) October 6, 2019

Monday, October 7, 2:07 p.m.

Minneapolis police union selling “Cops for Trump” T-shirts, in wake of uniform ban

Mpls. police say the move was in the works before Trump announced visit.

Monday, October 7, 10:47 p.m.

Detention sought for young repeat Minneapolis offenders

Policy change meant to address Mpls. crime wave.



— tl;dr perception of increased crime downtown is tied to one specific group. Minors from the group are diverted from jail to the Juvenile Supervision Center, where some 10 percent to 13 percent walk out after waiting up to 10 hours to be offered shelter or a guardian. Because the jail has significantly more resources than diversion programs, repeat offenders will be sent to jail instead

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