Minneapolis, MN
21.7% Pay Raise For Minneapolis Police If Council Approves 3-Year Contract
MINNEAPOLIS — The city of Minneapolis and its police union have agreed to a contract that would give officers a 21.7 percent pay raise over the course of three years, officials announced Tuesday.
Members of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis voted 301-63 in support of the agreement after nine months of bargaining.
“This agreement rightly recognizes the sacrifices they regularly make on behalf of our residents,” Chief Brian O’Hara said in a city news release.
The contract will now go before the city council. If approved, its terms would be retroactively applied as of Jan. 1, 2023, and expire Dec. 31, 2025. The pay increase would make Minneapolis one of the highest-paying police departments in Minnesota by 2025.
“After months of hard work, our negotiating team has struck a balanced agreement that will make the department a more competitive employer and provide our chief with the necessary managerial control,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in the news release. “This was an all-hands-on-deck effort, and I am hopeful that my Council colleagues will support the agreement.”
The contract would give O’Hara discretion to place an officer on paid investigatory leave for up to 180 days in cases involving allegations of severe misconduct, as opposed to the 30 days of discretion the city’s top cop has been allowed in the past.
The agreement also permits the chief and other department leaders to assign officers to the areas of greatest need and clears the city to make permanent civilian hires to assist with investigative tasks in order to allow officers to focus on “critical safety work,” according to the news release. Under the contract, department leadership would also be able to promote people based on candidate readiness as opposed to mandates.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed a new ordinance that carries a ban on assault weapons but won’t take effect unless there are major changes to state law.
Minneapolis gun ban ordinance signed
What we know:
The Minneapolis City Council approved the ordinance during its meeting last week.
The firearm regulations ordinance includes a ban on assault weapons, ghost guns, binary triggers, and high-capacity magazines. The ordinance also includes safe storage provisions for firearms.
Big picture view:
Many of the provisions in the law won’t go into effect unless there is a change in state law. Currently, Minnesota law prevents municipalities from enacting gun regulations.
Minnesota law only allows cities to bar the discharge of firearms within city limits and adopt regulations that are identical to state laws. Any regulations that go beyond state law are voided, according to state statute.
Local perspective:
Action on the gun ordinance was spurred by last year’s shooting at Annunciation Church and School. Two students were killed while attending morning mass at the church and more than two dozen students and parishioners were hurt in the barrage of gunfire.
Last week, parents of Annunciation students spoke out in support of the ordinance at a public hearing.
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus threatens lawsuit
The other side:
Last year, St. Paul passed a similar law. The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus filed a lawsuit shortly after the ordinance was signed. Arguments were heard last month on the case and a judge has set a trial for next year.
In a statement last week, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus said it was evaluating its legal options in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus Chair Bryan Strawser said:
“The City of Minneapolis is attempting to make a political statement with an ordinance it has no legal authority to enact. Minnesota law clearly preempts the entire field of firearms regulation, and local governments cannot simply ignore state statute because they dislike the policy outcome.
“If the City Council moves forward with this unlawful ordinance, we will evaluate every available legal option to challenge it, just as we did in Saint Paul.
“The law is not optional, even for Minneapolis.”
A man was hurt in a shooting in south Minneapolis late Tuesday night, according to police.
A report of shots fired brought officers to the 2600 block of Third Avenue South around 9:50 p.m., the Minneapolis Police Department said. They found evidence of gunfire and began investigating.
Later, a man with survivable gunshot wounds showed up at Hennepin Healthcare.
No one has been arrested.
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