There are some people who are predicting confidently that the Minneapolis City Council will vote to abolish the Minneapolis Police Department.
Here’s my question. Minneapolis tort law allows individuals to sue Minnesota public officials for damages due to either actions or omissions in the performance of their official duties. There is no sovereign immunity there. Would abolishing the Minneapolis Police Department expose members of the Minneapolis City Council to suit if citizens or businesses in Minneapolis are injured by lawbreakers?
Update
NBC reports that a majority of the Minneapolis City Council has agreed (whatever that means) to disband the Minneapolis Police Department:
A majority of the Minneapolis City Council agreed Sunday to dismantle the city’s police department after the in-custody killing of George Floyd, a council member said.
In a tweet, Alondra Cano, who represents the city’s ninth ward, said the department isn’t “reformable.”
“We’re dismantling our police department,” Councilman Jeremiah Ellison said.
Speaking during a community meeting earlier, council President Lisa Bender called the city’s relationship with the department “toxic†and vowed to “recreate systems of public safety that actually keep us safe.â€
“Our efforts at incremental reform have failed — period,†she said. “Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our community safe and to tell the truth that Minneapolis police are not doing that.â€
Nine of the city’s 12 council members have agreed to the move, NBC affiliate KARE reported. Cano said the majority is veto-proof.
I’m sure this will work out well. Let’s hope for the best.
The key is to have the right expectations. If one sets them low enough; this could be a pleasant surprise.
“Our commitment is to do what’s necessary to keep every single member of our community safe………â€
Morgan and Morgan – for the people – must be licking their chops. Ms. Bender, is it not true that you guaranteed (guaranteed!!) the safety of my client, that you willfully dismantled the police department, and that as President of the Counsel my client could reasonably rely on your assurances……
Look at the bright side. That ought to keep her occupied and out of mischief for awhile.
One aspect of the issue which I didn’t mention in the post is that in Illinois at least if localities were to disband their police forces they would still owe the dismissed members full pensions. This will get very expensive very quickly.
“This will get very expensive very quickly.â€
Well, yeah. Just the printing and mailing costs of the boxed CD sets of John Lennon’s Imagine, Kumbaya and I’d Like to Buy the World a Coke sent out to all residents is going to be a fortune.
Hmm. I wonder if I could convince them to include The Politics of Dancing…….
But seriously folks. Let’s stipulate there is an issue. What chance is there to deal with it constructively when reacting in haste to a mob psychology? A group of people who voted in Omar would be difficult to reason with on a good day.
I’m trying to see the possibilities.
What would they do if they have an active shooter at the mall?
How do you handle a reckless, speeding driver, endangering lives?
Who serves arrest warrants? The mailman?
Since 9/11, a number of agencies have been over militarized, but that has no relevance to the George Floyd case.
This “dismantle” sentiment may play well at present, but what I see if they go through with it is an armed citizenry and vigilante justice.
Police Departments need an attitude reform, their arrogance has become a problem.