Minneapolis Police Department withdrawing from union negotiations

Chief Medaria Arradondo of the Minneapolis Police Department said on Wednesday that the department is withdrawing from the police unions contract negotiations. Arradondo made the announcement while sharing what he says will be the first steps in transformational reforms that the agency will go through following the death of George Floyd, reports AP News.

Arradondo said there will be an in depth contract review adding that the contract has to give more flexibility and transparency for true reform. The review will go over matters including use of force, critical incident protocols, as well as disciplinary protocols such as arbitration and grievances.

Arradondo noted that he finds it debilitating when there is good reason to terminate an officer but they are kept on the force through a third-party mechanism.

“This work must be transformational, but I must do it right,” he said.

Arradondo promised for new strategies and research to find and deal with problem officers, but did not comment as to whether union head Bob Kroll—who many see as a barrier to reform—should have to step down.

“We will have a police department that our communities view as legitimate, trusting and working with their best interests at heart,” he said.

George Floyd died in Minneapolis on May 25 after an officer kept pressure on Floyd’s neck with his knee. The officer was Derek Chauvin, who previously had 17 complaints and only received discipline once. He has now been charged with manslaughter, second-degree murder and third-degree murder.

The four officers at the scene were fired by Arradondo before being criminally charged. Many members of the Minneapolis City Council called for the department to dismantle, though they did not provide a well thought out plan on how to do so.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey did not support the idea though he agreed with changing the way the department functions. On Monday, while speaking to “Good Morning America” he said it is difficult for the city to discipline and terminate officers due to the police union.

Attorney Bob Bennett claims to have sued the department over police misconduct allegations “hundreds” of times adding that police chiefs do not have as much power over police conduct as the union does.

Arradondo joined the department in 1989 eventually becoming the first African American police chief in Minneapolis. People had hopes that he would be able to make changes to the department, which critics believe was discriminatory and often used excessive force. During Arradondo's swearing-in ceremony he talked about restoring trust and made changes shortly after, including enforcing the use of body cameras on officers.