MN peace officer rule would reject job applicants, revoke licenses, of those supporting hate groups

Public hearings set for Nov. 15 and 16

Minneapolis police guard the Third Precinct on the first night of protests over George Floyd’s murder.

Everyone wants fair and unbiased law enforcement; in the United States today, red flags abound.

There were 19 current and former law enforcement officers involved in the Jan. 6 riot, which was promoted by extremist and hate groups.

A Reuters investigation found a “significant number of U.S. police instructors have ties to a constellation of armed right-wing militias and white supremacist hate groups, a report that adds to a fast-growing body of evidence showing a deadly threat inside U.S. police departments.”

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights released a report in April finding a pattern and practice of racial discrimination in the Minneapolis Police Department.

At a minimum, addressing these problem will require changes to law enforcement’s hiring process, training, and discipline.

The Board of Minnesota Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) is in the middle of reviewing new rules that would reject job applicants and terminate current officers who support extremist or hate groups, and make other changes.

Proposed rule would make support of white supremacist or hate groups a violation of police ‘standards of conduct’

The Minnesota Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) Board is considering a new rule for licensed officers that would make support or involvement in white supremacist, hate, or extremist groups a violation of police ‘standards of conduct.’

It’s one of three rule changes under the POST Board’s review.

Any officer violating the code of conduct is subject to discipline, ranging from a reprimand to termination.

Another proposal would require law enforcement agencies to adopt a policy around police responses to public assemblies, crowd control, and use of force.

A public comment period on the rule changes is open for one more week, until Wednesday, July 20.