DOJ Ends Consent Decree, Dismisses Lawsuits Against Louisville, Minneapolis Police

The U.S. Department of Justice announced it is dismissing the Biden-era consent decrees and lawsuits against the Louisville Metro Police Department and the Minneapolis Police Department, as well as closing investigations into several other police departments. These consent decrees were originally established in response to civil rights violations and high-profile incidents, including the police killings of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, criticized the decrees for removing local control from communities and placing it in the hands of unelected bureaucrats, calling the approach a failed experiment. The DOJ affirmed confidence that police officers nationwide would continue to enforce the law constitutionally, while remaining ready to take necessary action against violations, including criminal prosecutions. This shift marks a significant policy change from the Biden administration's approach to policing reform, emphasizing local authority over federally mandated reforms. Investigations and consent decrees in other cities such as Phoenix, Trenton, Memphis, Mount Vernon, Oklahoma City, and Louisiana State Police are also being closed.