[Powerline] The city of Minneapolis is in a rush to finalize a consent decree with the Biden Department of Justice. According to the Star Tribune, the terms of the consent decree mandate "sweeping police reforms."Why the rush? Because city authorities fear they may not be able to turn authority over the department to the incoming Trump administration. They want to sell out the police department while they can. It may be too late after January 20.
The consent decree would subject the Minneapolis Police Department to continuing federal oversight. The Star Tribune does not quote a single source or authority explaining why such a consent decree is preferable to the status quo, which includes the department’s agreement to a settlement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
Most cities do not seek to give up authority over their own police departments. As the Star Tribune story observes: "Minneapolis [would] become the first city in the nation with its police department governed by both state and federal mandates." It is another opportunity for Minneapolis to achieve a dubious distinction.