Police Action Delayed: A Persistent Issue
Eric Wilson
A brief, 14-second video shows a SWAT team storming Locke's residence in Minneapolis during an investigation, this time with a warrant. Upon waking up, Locke was seen with a weapon for a brief moment prior to his death. The police claimed Locke was not mentioned in the warrant, while an attorney for Locke's family insisted that Locke was a lawful gun owner.
Regrettably, Locke's death in a city still reeling from George Floyd's 2020 murder only serves to highlight the senseless loss of more innocent lives, predominantly Black ones, at the hands of Minneapolis law enforcement.
The gravity of Locke's death is further amplified by the inordinate impact of search warrant issuance on Black communities across the nation. Federal officials in Washington D.C. have thus far neglected to address police reform robustly, failing to pass the George Floyd Policing Act twice despite widespread public calls for change.
Though primarily focusing on prohibiting warrantless arrests in drug cases, the bill would represent a significant stride in policing reform. Yet, here we find ourselves in 2022, less than three years after Breonna Taylor's warrant-related death in Kentucky and mere weeks after George Floyd's.
As a resident of the Minneapolis area, I had hoped that the tragic loss of Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Daunt Wright, and Philando Castile would prompt Congress to finally address the issue, establish nationwide standards, and outline best practices – ultimately saving lives.
Sadly, elected officials in Washington D.C. and certain police departments throughout the country have failed to act, resulting in further senseless deaths and devastated families.
The Road to Here: A Referendum on Reform
Congressional Crossroads
Just one month following Floyd's murder, Democrats in both chambers of Congress attempted to introduce a turning point, which was subsequently passed by the House but rejected in the Republican-controlled Senate. In 2021, the George Floyd Policing Act was reintroduced and passed by the House once again.
Public support for the Black Lives Matter movement has waned, and Covid-19's Delta variant has captured the nation's focus. Political backing for legislation in Congress has diminished as well. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act aims to create a national database for police misconduct, ban racial and religious profiling, and modify qualified immunity, shielding police from accountability.
Senator Tim Scott, South Carolina's sole Black Republican, worked on the bill alongside Democrats but could not secure the support of at least nine additional Republican colleagues, necessitating the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. With Democratic senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema holding steadfast to filibuster rules, passage of the bill remains an insurmountable challenge.
Mandates vs. Morality
Among the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act's most notable provisions, it explicitly bans no-knock warrants in drug investigations, threatening to withhold federal funding from departments continuing the practice – a tactic that has spawned widespread condemnation and calls for reform, particularly following Breonna Taylor's death.
Although many jurisdictions have curtailed or abolished the use of no-knock warrants in the past two years, Minneapolis has not. Reports from the Minneapolis Star Tribune reveal that officers have obtained 13 new warrants with approval and one additional standard warrant in the past month alone.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey announced a "pause" in no-knock warrants after Locke's death, but the city refused to enact the policy. With the 2022 midterm elections nearing, the focus on police reform has waned as murder rates climb in cities nationwide.
President Biden recently visited New York City, expressing support for former NYPD police officer and current mayor Eric Adams, who called for increased funding and increased law enforcement resources to better protect the community.
Enrichment Insights
The intricate web of challenges and opportunities surrounding police reform in the United States continues to evolve, with key drivers such as:
Advancements in State Legislation:
- New York State Senate Bill S4354 aims to increase transparency and public trust in the police disciplinary process by limiting the Police Commissioner's discretion in modifying or rejecting civilian review board determinations.
Focus on Immigration-Related Reforms:
- The POLICE Act of 2025, introduced by Senators Katie Britt and Ted Budd, seeks to make the assault of law enforcement officers, firefighters, or other first responders a deportable offense, reinforcing federal legislation and encouraging swift removal of offenders.
Persistent Obstacles:
- Partisan divide and politicization of police reform efforts have hindered meaningful progress, causing many to question the integrity and effectiveness of the legislative process.
- Striking a balance between public safety and civil liberties has remained a contentious topic, particularly in regard to the implementation and oversight of AI technology in policing.
- Community trust in law enforcement continues to erode, making it challenging to implement reforms that require cooperation and understanding between law enforcement and the public.
- Failed police reform efforts in cities like Atlanta have further exacerbated tension and incited scrutiny of policing practices, shedding light on the importance of community-driven strategies.
- Effective implementation of police reform requires robust oversight mechanisms to mitigate potential unintended consequences and prevent officer burnout.
These elements combined have contributed to the ongoing challenges in passing and implementing comprehensive police reforms in the United States.
