According to the Minneapolis Police Use-of-Force Dashboard, the number of use-of-force incidents reached a high of 3,928, in 2022.

Through July of 2024, there have been 1,240 use-of-force incidents. If that trend holds, the number of reported incidents will have dropped significantly over the past two years.

MPD Deputy Chief Travis Glampe said use-of-force criteria are broad.

“When you’re talking about use-of-force, just putting your hands on somebody to stop them, to you know using a taser or using a firearm,” said Glampe.

Glampe told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS a renewed focus on training has been the key to a successful downward trend in use-of-force incidents.

“We train to do only the force that’s reasonable, necessary and proportional to whatever we’re dealing with,” said Glampe. “Our training, the new focus on doing the de-escalation techniques, sanctity of life, all those things that we’ve really focused on now starting over the past few years, we’re starting to see that training come into play.”

Minneapolis City Council member LaTrisha Vetaw told KSTP that she is encouraged by the new data showing a downward trend.

“I am not shocked. I am happy that the numbers are continuing to decline and I expect them to keep doing it,” said Vetaw. “Really, like looking at how the police force is different and better. I think that’s been a big part of it, right? It’s use-of-force and how they interact.”

Vetaw said if the numbers stay steady through the end of the year, she intends to ask MPD to make a presentation before the full city council.

The number of use-of-force incidents dropped significantly in 2023 as well, but MPD said they used different criteria that year and that 2024 now has the same criteria as 2022 and that is why those two years are comparable.

A 78-year-old who was knocked down and robbed of his Cane Corso puppy earlier this week was reunited with the dog in a heartwarming scene, according to Minneapolis police.

“A kind person who purchased the puppy saw the story and contacted MPD to coordinate the return of the puppy,” the MPD wrote on Facebook on Friday. “The kindness of others is always a wonderful response to violence.  Check out the smile of the owner when he was reunited with his canine companion.”

Authorities said the puppy was returned to the owner by the person who bought it after it was taken. They saw a story about the theft and returned it to the rightful owner.

On August 5, an unidentified person knocked down the senior and took the dog on the 1800 block of 3rd Ave South in Minneapolis.

Police say they’re still looking for information about the case, and asked for help identifying multiple people with potential links to the case, including a youth photographed on public transportation holding the puppy, and three people captured on surveillance video in a convenience store.

A woman who said she is the teen’s mother responded to the post, according to Minnesota-based outlet Bring Me The News.

“My 14-year-old child should not be in jail for finding a puppy,” she said, adding, “He did not assault anybody or hit anybody.”

Another commenter said she knew another woman seen in the video, and denied she was involved in the robbery either.

“I know this woman in the picture and she had nothing to do with it!” the commenter wrote. “She couldn’t hurt anyone at all! She to loving and kind to people and animals! I know this for a fact! I talk to her everyday!”

So far, police have not identified any suspects or made any arrests in the case.