Minneapolis Council votes to close community safety office

The Minneapolis City Council voted 9-4 on Thursday to dissolve the Office of Community Safety. Members argued the agency failed to deliver results that justified its operating costs.

Several council members described the move as a restructuring designed to cut bureaucracy and save taxpayer money. They cited concerns that the office did not improve oversight of the Minneapolis Police Department. Specific complaints included overspending within the agency.

The office was established in 2022 to supervise five separate departments. These included police, fire, 911, emergency services, and neighborhood safety. The council’s decision leaves the future oversight of these groups unclear. Officials have not yet determined which entity will assume their supervisory duties.

Mayor Jacob Frey opposed the elimination. He stated the office coordinates mental health response, violence prevention, and police reform efforts. Other local leaders pointed to shorter emergency response times as evidence that the department improved public safety operations.

If Frey vetoes the measure, the council will need nine votes to override it. The vote count from Thursday meets that threshold, but the mayor still holds the option to reject the bill before it takes effect.