Minneapolis will spend $ 6.4 million to hire dozens more police officers after a large number of police left the department in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and the protests that followed.
The Minnesota Police Department said there are only 638 officers available to work, 200 fewer than in the past year, the Star Tribune reported.
Several cops have quit, retired or gone on extended medical leave, many for PTSD claims, following last spring’s riots that included a burnt-out area and calls to end police. About 155 officers remain on some form of extended leave, the report said.
In the months since the protests, many residents have urged the city to hire more police and said they are waiting longer for answers to 911 calls amid a resurgence of violent crime.
The additional funding for the force, which was unanimously approved by the city council on Friday, comes even as some councilors and activist groups try to dismantle the department, saying police have not proven effective in reducing crime.
Three councilors have written a proposal to replace the power with a ‘public safety department’ that would include policing and other services.
A coalition of community activists called Yes 4 Minneapolis is also working to get a similar proposal for the November vote.