Minneapolis Police Discipline Matrix Under Review by Policy Recommendations Committee

The August 19, 2025, meeting of the Community Commission on Police Oversight (CCPO) in Minneapolis focused on the review and discussion of the new discipline matrix for the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The meeting began with public comments, where a speaker expressed concerns about the clarity and fairness of the proposed discipline matrix, suggesting that it was overly complex and difficult for both the public and officers to understand. The speaker urged the commission to reconsider the matrix and offered to provide older versions for reference.

Following public comments, the chair of the Police Policy Research and Recommendations Committee, Commissioner Schanfeld, initiated discussions on the new draft of the discipline matrix, which is currently open for public review until August 29. The committee aims to compare the MPD's matrix with those from other cities to identify best practices and areas for improvement. Schanfeld emphasized the importance of public input and encouraged attendees to share their thoughts during the meeting.

Commissioners took turns discussing their findings from reviewing discipline matrices from other cities, including Portland, Newark, and New Orleans. Commissioner Bartz noted that while the MPD's draft was comprehensive, it was also lengthy and unwieldy compared to Portland's more concise version. He highlighted the need for better organization and clarity in linking disciplinary actions to specific policies.

Commissioner Bushmaker pointed out discrepancies between Newark's and MPD's approaches, particularly regarding the treatment of court appearances, suggesting that failure to appear should be taken more seriously. He echoed concerns about the complexity of the MPD draft and the need for clearer cross-referencing with policy violations.

Commissioner Kennedy shared insights from New Orleans' discipline matrix, noting that their streamlined rules could serve as a valuable model for Minneapolis. He acknowledged that New Orleans has a more developed framework due to their ongoing consent decree process, which could provide lessons for Minneapolis as it seeks to improve its disciplinary procedures.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to incorporate the feedback received into the final recommendations for the discipline matrix, which will be reviewed in the upcoming Police Policy Research and Recommendations Committee meeting. The CCPO aims to ensure that the new matrix is fair, transparent, and effective in guiding disciplinary actions within the MPD.