The Minnesota Senate passed five bills with seven major changes to policing and the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board this morning.

“These changes have bipartisan support and are part of the national discussion encouraging police departments across the country to adopt stricter standards on the use of force,” said Senator Carla Nelson (R- Rochester). “Minnesota can lead by adopting these common-sense reforms.”

The changes to policing include banning chokeholds and neck restraints, requiring a duty to intervene and report if an officer sees excessive use of force, and requiring officers to consider the sanctity of life before using deadly force. In response to excessive use of force by police these reforms have been passed in other states and were proposed by the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) caucus in the Minnesota Senate.

In a bipartisan move, the Senate accepted an amendment to increase the POST board with an additional two members from the public. Currently, the POST board is made up of 15 people, most from various areas of law enforcement and two public members. All are appointed by the Governor. “Expanding the POST Board to include more public input will help forge better relationships,” said Senator Nelson.

The bills included continued funding of $6 million annually for mandatory training. Training funds can be used for any of the mandatory hours of instruction officers must receive, and could cover topics like cultural diversity, implicit bias, crisis response, and mental illnesses.

Another bill Sen. Nelson helped pass was proposed by the Attorney General’s working group on policing and supported by the Governor’s office. It will provide mental support to law enforcement officers. “We ask a lot of our officers,” said Nelson. “Making sure they have the help and support they need after a critical or traumatic incident is paramount to keeping the force healthy and preventing a previous experience from spilling over into the everyday obligations of their job.”

Finally, to provide transparency, the Senate passed a recommendation from the Governor’s office to require reporting the use of deadly force or force that causes severe bodily harm to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Requiring statewide reporting provides valuable data to law enforcement, the public, and advocates. The BCA would be required to provide a monthly report of each incident for accountability.

“Some of these reforms have already been put in place by local Police Chiefs and Sheriffs,” said Sen. Carla Nelson. “We must not let the horrific actions of one Minneapolis cop be an indictment on all law enforcement officers. These reforms will help create trust and accountability with our law enforcement officers and the communities they serve,” concluded Nelson.