MINNEAPOLIS — In a 10-2 vote, the Minneapolis City Council approved another batch of worker's comp claims in a meeting on Thursday.
The money will be distributed to nine police officers to the tune of nearly $1.5 million, according to the longtime advocacy group Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB).
"This just keeps going on and on and on," said CUAPB Vice President Dave Bicking.
So far, Bicking said the city has paid nearly $32,711,000 of tax payer money to 209 officers, mainly, he said, for post-traumatic stress disorder after former MPD officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd four years ago.
Mayor Jacob Frey's spokesperson, though, won't confirm that due to privacy laws.
"Those settlements are still coming and we've got a lot more to come and the fallout from that is not over," said Bicking.
The ongoing settlements have concerned some council members in the past. They expressed skepticism of the claims especially for cops who have faced misconduct allegations.
Councilor Michael Rainville says state law lowered the burden of proof several years ago and rejecting cases already diagnosed by doctors would only be more costly, forcing him to vote in favor of these settlements.
"Our hands are tied and we got a cement block around our feet," said Rainville over the phone.
Bicking worries the claim backlog impacts recruiting when the department is still down hundreds of officers. Previous police chiefs predicted the city would need 1,300 officers in 2024. There are currently 512.
"Who would ever apply to a job that dangerous," asked Bicking. "It's going to take a lot of time, but it's going to take some actual effort."
The mayor says applications are up since March and hopes its recently approved police contract with record pay raises only helps.
In a statement, Mayor Frey wrote, “The numbers speak for themselves. Applications are up. New recruits are seeing Minneapolis as a great place to start and build a career, joining an agency that’s shaping the future of policing under the leadership of Chief Brian O’Hara. The increased pay as part of the new contract makes sure our officers are properly compensated for their work. We continue to welcome new recruits, and we are proud to have them on our City team."
Rainville also added, that for the first time since 2020, more officers will be hired in 2024 than who are retiring.