Minneapolis will spend $ 6.4 million hiring dozens of police officers after a large number of police officers left the department following the assassination of George Floyd and subsequent protests.
The Minnesota City Police Department said it only has 638 officers available to work, 200 fewer than in recent years, Star Tribune reported.
Several police officers quit smoking, retired or quit a prolonged medical leave, many for claims of post-traumatic stress disorder, following last spring’s riots that included a burned-out compound and calls to end police force. About 155 officers remain on some form of extended leave, according to the report.
In the months following the protests, many residents have urged the city to hire more police, saying they are waiting longer to get answers to 911 calls amid an increase in violent crime.
Additional funding for the force, approved unanimously by City Hall on Friday, comes even when some council members and activist groups are pushing to dismantle the department, saying police have not been shown to be effective in reducing crime. .
Three council members have written a proposal to replace the force with a “public safety department” that includes police and other services.
A coalition of community activists called Yes 4 Minneapolis is also working to get a proposal similar to the November vote.