Ballot language to replace police department gets Minneapolis council's OK

The Minneapolis City Council on Friday endorsed ballot language that would allow residents in November to decide if they want to replace the police department.

The city has been under pressure to overhaul its policing system following George Floyd’s fatal encounter with former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin last year. Chauvin was sentenced to 22 and a half years for the murder of Floyd. A Justice Department probe into the department’s policing practices has compounded that pressure.

Council members approved the wording in a 12-1 vote, according to NBC affiliate KARE of Minneapolis.

The question approved on Friday reads: "Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to strike and replace the Police Department with a Department of Public Safety that employs a comprehensive public health approach, and which would include licensed peace officers (police officers) if necessary, to fulfill its responsibilities for public safety, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made a part of this ballot?"