MINNEAPOLIS _ The Minnesota Department of Human Rights will launch an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department after filing a civil rights charge related to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody last week.
The probe, announced Tuesday by Gov. Tim Walz, will look at Minneapolis police policies and procedures over the past 10 years to determine whether the department has engaged in discriminatory practices toward people of color.
Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero will lead the investigation.
The investigation follows the arrest and charges against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, a white officer who knelt on Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes before he died. Three other police officers have been fired following the deadly encounter.
"We are going to establish peace on the streets when we address the systemic issues," Walz said.
The move is the first time the Human Rights Department has launched a systemic investigation into the largest police department in the state, the governor said. The state is also seeking an agreement with the Minneapolis Police Department to implement immediate measures to address systemic issues of racial discrimination, Walz said.
