The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board voted unanimously Wednesday evening to sever ties with the city’s police department in response to the death of George Floyd at the hands of its officers.
The resolution adopted by the board directs parks superintendent Alfred Bangoura to prohibit park police officers from responding to backup requests from the Minneapolis Police Department on nonviolent calls, and to stop employing Minneapolis police officers to provide security at park-sanctioned events.
Under the resolution, Bangoura must provide an alternative plan to secure events by Aug. 1.
“Recent actions by the Minneapolis Police Department in the alleged murder of George Floyd while in police custody have severely undermined community trust in, and sense of safety around, Minneapolis Police,” the resolution read, in part.
The park board also unanimously approved a second resolution to redesign park police uniforms to distinguish them from those worn by Minneapolis police.
The park board is just the latest entity to cut ties with the department. The Minneapolis school board on Tuesday voted to stop employing the city’s police officers to provide security at the district’s schools. The Walker Art Center announced a similar move Wednesday morning.
