Minneapolis Police Department Experiences First Growth in Officer Numbers Since 2019

MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time since 2019, the Minneapolis Police Department’s staffing levels are showing signs of recovery after a sharp decline that followed George Floyd’s death in 2020. The number of sworn officers, which had decreased from 920 in March 2019 to a low of 560 by March 2024, has now risen to 588 officers as of mid-May, according to data provided by the department to Axios.

The city charter stipulates a minimum requirement of 713 officers, a benchmark that has not been met since 2021. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara noted that the department is starting to make progress.

Mayor Jacob Frey shared with Axios, “We saw a net positive in staffing last year, and we anticipate a significantly higher net positive this year.”

In 2024, city officials approved a new union contract featuring unprecedented pay increases to aid recruitment efforts. Contributing factors to the staff shortages include an increase in workers’ compensation claims post-2020 and a waning interest in law enforcement careers. Additionally, nearly 25% of the current officers are projected to reach retirement age within three years, according to Chief O’Hara.

Homicide detectives and other personnel have been managing heavy workloads under intensified public scrutiny. Sgt. Andrew Schroeder recounted during a 2024 ridealong, “A veteran cop told me recently, ‘I’m just tired of being seen as the villain.’”

May 25 marks the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death, a pivotal event that transformed the city’s approach to public safety. On May 21, the U.S. Department of Justice announced plans to seek dismissal of a federal consent decree in Minneapolis. However, the department will continue to operate under a state-level reform agreement.

Chief O’Hara emphasized the ongoing commitment to lasting reform and rebuilding trust within the community. “The members of this police department, like the residents of this community, have endured a tremendous amount of change and trauma, and they understand that changes were necessary,” he said.