An early look at what’s in the tentative agreement with the U.S. DOJ mandating police reforms in Minneapolis

Rank-and-file officers would have to use the lowest level of force needed to ensure their safety, stop an attack, make an arrest or prevent escape. They must consider before using force whether any non-compliance stems from a person’s age, size, physical condition, mental impairment, or language barrier.

Neck restraints and chokeholds are prohibited.

Any officer who carries a firearm must also carry at least one less-lethal weapon they have been trained on — whether in uniform or plainclothes. Chemical irritants should not be used on a person in a vehicle unless an imminent danger exists.

Federal oversight would require more rigorous use-of-force reporting by officers, who are expected to document specific details on every interaction in which they display or fire a weapon or cause physical injury.

MPD must create a Use of Force Board, chaired by the chief or top deputy, to review higher-level incidents, discuss trends and adopt new policy. A new Force Investigations Team (FIT), made up of supervisors and trained civilians, will be tasked with responding to the scene of critical encounters and conducting a thorough investigation.

Any officer who discharges their service pistol in the line of duty is required to provide a statement to their supervisor “as soon as possible” and won’t be permitted to leave the scene until they do so, unless it’s to receive medical care.