East Twin Cities

The Minnesota Senate Republicans have passed a second round of police reforms for the state. 

The legislation includes 10 provisions supported by the Senate and five more major reforms, according to a press release from the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus. 

“Most Minnesota police departments are run with integrity," Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes) said in the press release. "This bill enhances that integrity and provides consistency across the state."

The 10 provisions, which were part of the first part of police reforms passed in June, include: Funding for law enforcement training and crisis intervention, cultural diversity and mental illness; helping officers handle stress and trauma; expanding background checks for police station employees; instructing police officers to preserve life and refrain from using deadly force when possible; adding two members to the POST Board; clarifying mental illness training; deadly force incidents must be reported to BCA; four additional hours of mandatory autism training for each officer; chokeholds and neck restraints are banned and requiring intervention and report for officers by a duty. 

The five reforms from the second round ban "warrior" style training; create POST Board membership changes, which will "create the Ensuring Police Excellence and Improving Community Relations Advisory Council" and adds a member to the Complaint Investigation Committee; create a database of public data for the POST board; authorize municipalities to give residents incentives to live in peace with police officers and establish a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigatory unit.