“There was irresponsible misinformation shared on social media by some officials—statements made without gathering basic facts. That kind of rhetoric is harmful and only served to inflame tensions, increasing the danger to everyone involved. Elected officials have a responsibility to provide accurate information, especially during tense situations.”
On Tuesday, June 3, shortly after 10 a.m., while attending a roll call for Operation Safe Summer IV, I was informed of a federal law enforcement operation underway near Lake Street and Bloomington Avenue. The Minneapolis Police Department was not involved in the planning or execution of the federal criminal search warrant.
At approximately 11:15 a.m.—more than an hour after the operation began—MPD was requested to assist with crowd control. Officers responded to help de-escalate and stabilize a rapidly escalating situation involving confrontations between members of a crowd and federal agents. MPD cleared from the area soon after 1:00 p.m.
The federal enforcement operation on June 3 focused on serious criminal activity, including drug trafficking and human trafficking—crimes that have no place in our communities. Yesterday’s actions were part of that criminal investigation, not an immigration raid.
Later, at 4:05 p.m., MPD officers responded to a separate property damage incident involving a crowd surrounding an occupied vehicle. Officers intervened, assisted the vehicle in leaving the area, and arrested two individuals for assaulting an officer during the process. That officer sustained minor injuries and was later cleared at a hospital.
What occurred on June 3 revealed just how sensitive and intense the issue of immigration enforcement remains in our city. While the federal operation was not related to immigration enforcement, the manner in which it was executed was tone deaf to the reality of tensions and fear in our community. I have communicated my concerns directly to our federal partners.
There was irresponsible misinformation shared on social media by some officials—statements made without gathering basic facts. That kind of rhetoric is harmful and only served to inflame tensions, increasing the danger to everyone involved. Elected officials have a responsibility to provide accurate information, especially during tense situations.
As Chief of Police, I have a sworn duty to protect the people of Minneapolis. When a situation escalates quickly and becomes dangerous—as it did on Tuesday—MPD has an obligation to step in, gather facts, and deescalate the situation to protect life and safety for everyone.
MPD operates under the City’s separation ordinance and does not participate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
We rely heavily on our federal partners to combat violent crime, prosecute gang members, disrupt drug trafficking networks, and hold dangerous offenders accountable.
Chief Brian O’Hara
Minneapolis Police Department
Related: Federal Raid Spurs Misinformation Campaign
Related: Seek the Peace of the City
Related: Watch – Lake St and Bloomington Ave federal law enforcement after-action review
Related: Statement from Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara Regarding Federal Criminal Search Warrant
I’m coming to the party late to commenting on this, but I think the following is important.
CM Jason Chavez has challenged the Chief, apparently multiple times, to “name names” as to WHICH officials shared “…irresponsible misinformation… on social media… —statements made without gathering basic facts.” Last I heard, the Chief had not responded, and Chavez is crowing about that.
I understand the Chief’s reluctance to “name names” from the get-go. It would only be inflammatory, and was unnecessary, since anyone who could read social media or even the legacy media accounts OF social media knew is was, at minimum, Chavez himself, Omar Fateh, and CM Chugtai. So, there. I have named the names…
However, if CM Chavez is going to “double down” in this way, implying that the things he communicated were NOT irresponsible misinformation uttered without first gathering the facts, Chief O’Hara SHOULD, himself, go ahead and “name names” rather that allow those who may be predisposed to accept the reckless, ignorant, and inflammatory utterances of Chavez, Fateh, and Chugtai to assume that he is backing down from this statement. Naming at least these three is no longer an exercise in restraint. It is potentially dangerous.
Minneapolis council members approve audit of ICE involvement at Lake St. investigation | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
https://www.fox9.com/news/minneapolis-council-members-criticize-ice-involvement-lake-st-investigation
Excerpt…
Council Member Linea Palmisano said she hoped any review would also include communications by council members who she said created an “increasingly tense scene.”
“This community trusts you,” said Palmisano. “And this community takes your lead. So inflammatory or uncorrected messaging really jeopardizes public safety.”
The motion passed on an 12-0 vote.
Thanks for posting that link. I recommend reading it in it’s entirety. Jason Chavez is quoted extensively. He makes it quite clear he does not understand the concerns expressed by 2 actually competent members of Minneapolis’ public service, Chief O’Hara and Linea Palmisano. Chavez talks of the trauma caused by the presence of ICE agents in an area with a large immigrant population. Legal immigrants may justifiably feel some trepidation due to some of the sloppy and heavy handed work by ICE that has led to some mistakes being made and innocent people’s lives being upended. Illegal immigrants who experience trauma have no one to blame but themselves. Chavez would not agree with the last point. As a member of government, it is his job to uphold our laws and he falls miserably at that.
Email from Frey yesterday..
Yesterday, reports spread quickly of federal law enforcement agents in South Minneapolis.
It’s not surprising that these reports were met with panic and confusion. Donald Trump’s cruel immigration policies have created an environment of understandable fear. Many beloved community members who pose no threat have been uprooted from their families and the neighborhoods that they have made great, often without due process.
When I heard of the federal activity, I began asking many of the same questions I’ve heard from community members. Was this an immigration raid? Was MPD facilitating or involved in the law enforcement action? I quickly learned that the answer to these questions was “no.” This was not an immigration raid. According to available information, it was a federal criminal investigation into several serious crimes ranging from human trafficking to money laundering. MPD had no role in planning or executing the operation. After a large crowd formed in response to the federal operation, MPD showed up to ensure the crowd and the surrounding area remained safe, which is their job.
As soon as we could, we communicated this information to the public. It’s a mayor’s responsibility to counter panic, confusion, and misinformation. Upholding that responsibility requires gathering the facts and communicating the truth to the public – especially in a social media age where impatience, rumors, and panic can spread quickly.
Unfortunately, some political leaders made inflammatory statements yesterday before the facts were known, statements that spread fear and panic instead of countering it. Some falsely implied that MPD was helping ICE deport residents. One of my opponents even jumped to social media to attack what he called “blatant fascism on display.”
Stoking panic can be a tempting short-term social media strategy in politics – it’s a good recipe for viral content. But it also erodes trust in government. Over the long term, it makes it easier for people like Donald Trump to tear down the institutions and norms that we need to defend the rule of law. Most of all, it’s bad for Minneapolis.
My commitment to you is simple: I will fight relentlessly to defend our communities from this administration’s efforts to tear them apart. And I will counter their efforts to sow fear and chaos in Minneapolis with facts and evidence, not panic and confusion.
Thank you,
Jacob Frey
Mayor of Minneapolis
Conveniently leaving out ICE was out there on Lake Street with MPD tagging along in support. I expect facts from our police chief, not evasions.
Two things can be true. ONE, that it is near impossible to trust the Federal government, given what we have seen under Trump. We know that we have been specifically targeted and that the Trump Admin does not like MN, and particularly the Metro area.
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/minneapolis-st-paul-among-sanctuary-cities-put-on-notice-by-trump-administration/
TWO, using this, ICE being there, when we know they will and can appear, anytime they want, but then ALSO alleging that the MPD is right there, joining in to assist in gathering up the undocumented, is NOT accurate. But that does fit into the narrative, which is being USED right now, by those that are ANTI law enforcement, in general, and very much ANTI MPD, pretty much about everything.
Case in point..
To watch CM Chavez, a taxpayer supported representative, USE this, as he almost immediately went after the MPD, is right out of the DSA Anti Police playbook.
Within hours Chavez asserted that the City was ” complicit” in creating this trauma as he spoke out against OUR employees.
One can only hope folks remember this type of thing, which is very common for Chavez, when they VOTE in the fall.
Thank you for this timely piece, and the statement from Police Chief O’Hara. It helps!