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Oversight commission urges MPD to increase public contact, tracking and training; requests legal opinion and after-action review
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Summary
The Community Commission on Police Oversight voted to forward recommendations to MPD to bolster implementation of Policy 9-401 (duty to intervene), requested an after-action review of Operation Metro Surge, and asked the city attorney for legal guidance on how use-of-force standards apply when federal agents are present.
The Community Commission on Police Oversight voted unanimously to forward a package of recommendations intended to strengthen implementation of Policy 9‑401 (police authority in immigration matters) and to request both an after‑action report and a legal analysis of use‑of‑force standards.
Commissioner Shanfield moved that the commission ask MPD to increase "face time" with the public during crises, develop stronger call‑tracking for incidents involving federal agents in coordination with dispatch, and provide more robust, scenario‑based training informed by active‑bystander techniques; Commissioner Baker seconded the motion. "Face time, tracking the calls and better training" were the core items Shanfield outlined. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote with 10 ayes.
Several public commenters had urged stronger enforcement of intervention duties. Michelle Gross, president of Communities United Against Police Brutality, told commissioners that 9‑401 is "adequate but the implementation of it is not," and criticized what she called the police chief's excuses for failing to intervene during the federal presence. "The standard is a national standard ... it's called Graham v. Connor," Gross said in public comment.
Commissioners then moved separately to request a formal after‑action review of Operation Metro Surge, to be facilitated for the mayor and city council. Vice Chair Olsen and others argued the city auditor or an independent reviewer should examine MPD's tactics and how the duty to intervene operated in the field; that motion passed.
Commissioner Baker also moved that the commission request a legal opinion from the city attorney about the differences, if any, between federal and local use‑of‑force rules and what those differences mean for the application of Policy 9‑401. Sam from the city attorney's office explained that the commission may request legal analysis under its ordinance but that attorney‑client privileged materials that the city attorney provided to MPD would not be disclosed. The commission approved the request for legal guidance by roll call.
Why it matters: commissioners said the combination of policy review, training upgrades and a legal analysis will clarify when and how MPD officers should intervene — both when dealing with MPD colleagues and when federal agents are present — and will inform the upcoming public hearing.
Next steps: the recommendations will be forwarded to MPD; the commission also asked the city attorney's office for written guidance within the scope permitted by privilege rules and requested that the city facilitate an after‑action review for consideration by the mayor and council.
