Report: Law enforcement coordination during unrest inefficient, unclear - Minnesota Reformer
Law enforcement agencies responding to unrest after the police murder of George Floyd didn’t coordinate efforts fast enough, establish clear structure or follow consistent accountability and engagement standards, according to an external review of the state’s response published Thursday.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety contracted with Wilder Research to “objectively evaluate what the state did well and did not do well” in its response to protests and riots in late May and early June 2020.
The 129-page report lists three primary recommendations for the state to better prepare for and manage future unrest: Strengthening coordination among agencies; improving relationships with city governments, local law enforcement and journalists; and, working to address tension between communities and police by “trust-building efforts, police accountability and transformation, and education.”
In the nights after Floyd’s death, peaceful protests gave way to arson and looting that damaged more than 1,300 buildings in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Gov. Tim Walz’s administration estimated that the damage in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs would total more than $500 million, making it the second-costliest civil disturbance in U.S. history. The costliest on record are the 1992 riots that erupted in Los Angeles after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King, which caused more than $1.4 billion in damage in today’s dollars.
The report comes on the heels of a separate damning audit about law enforcement and government response that instead focused on the city of Minneapolis. That audit found that the mayor and police chief failed to implement the city’s emergency plans or give officers clear guidance and instructions on how to respond to widespread protests and riots — including when and how to use rubber bullets and chemical irritants for crowd control.
Here are some strengths and areas for improvement outlined in the Wilder Research report:
Strengths
- Law enforcement agency coordination and communication was efficient, after a statewide command center was set up. The Multi-Agency Command Center established by the state Department of Public Safety helped law enforcement work together to limit injuries and property damage, Wilder found.
- Frequent news conferences helped inform the public, and officials acknowledged that community outrage was warranted. Gov. Tim Walz and public safety officials held 16 press conferences during the unrest, and community members said they appreciated Walz and others validating grief and rage over Floyd’s murder.
- Curfews were effective. Curfews were controversial among residents, but they helped limit illicit activity when enforced correctly, according to the report.
Areas for improvement
- The statewide command center was set up too late, and joint efforts between law enforcement agencies lacked clear structure and experienced leaders. The Multi-Agency Command Center wasn’t set up until May 29 — four days after Floyd’s murder. The report recommends establishing a system to coordinate among agencies in advance of potential unrest.
- Law enforcement didn’t distinguish between lawful and unlawful protesters in many cases, and community members felt law enforcement escalated tense situations. Law enforcement shouldn’t wear riot gear or have less-lethal munitions — like rubber bullets — visible to crowds, unless there’s “imminent threat” to officers and they intend to use the weapons, the report says. Law enforcement should also be trained in differentiating between peaceful and unlawful protesters.
- Inadequate communication between law enforcement and community members, including business owners, led people to take matters into their own hands. Many residents said they felt abandoned by police. Some attributed the varying levels of police response and visibility across communities to racism.
source: https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/report-law-enforcement-coordination-during-unrest-inefficient-unclear/
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