Imagine There's No Heaven: Minneapolis Residents Sue the City for the Failure of Its 'Reimagined' Police Department

So how’s a “reimagined” idea of the police department look? Well, according to a group of residents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it’s a sight worse than the original.

In fact, they claim the department is now understaffed and people are living in fear.

Fox9 reports:

A group of residents have had enough of the crime and violence in the city of Minneapolis, arguing in a lawsuit that there aren’t enough police patrolling the streets right now.

The lawsuit insists the city is falling short on MPD staffing levels required in its own city charter.

At a press conference, community activist Cathy Spann explained:

“We are here because of people’s safety. We want law and order. We want reform. But we are in this city to say, enough is enough.”

"We are the plan," says #Mpls community activist Cathy Spann. She & several other residents have filed a lawsuit, claiming city is not meeting its legal obligation to fund a minimal level of policing. Lawsuit arguments just wrapped up. Judge did not issue a ruling today. @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/3LcTQ3BqAb

— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) October 19, 2020

Per former councilor Don Samuels and his wife, kids can’t even go outside now — violent crimes such as carjackings, shootings, and murders have ramped up substantially since the death of George Floyd beneath the knee of Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin.

Don said they began with non-litigious appeals; now it’s time for Phase 2:

“We have made the emotional appeal. We have demonstrated the statistical uptick and now this is the legal action we are exercising because it seems as if the City Council cannot hear us and doesn’t feel what we feel.”

Don Samuels, former #Mpls city council member has also signed onto the lawsuit demanding adequate police staffing levels out on the streets. City wants suit dismissed. Claims, it is meeting minimum obligations spelled out in city charter. @FOX9 pic.twitter.com/reBLLIaA4U

— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) October 19, 2020

Following the uproar over Floyd’s death — which included a great deal of anti-police rhetoric and a “defund” vote by the city council — a monumental number of city officers have either quit or gone on leave.

The petition group asserts that’s brought the number of patrolling LEO’s down below the number required by the MiniApple’s charter.

Attorney James Dickey put it succinctly:

“We simply want to have enough police on the streets to keep Minneapolis safe.”

Fox notes the city’s Powers That Be are none too impressed with the suit:

While not providing specific employment data, the city and its attorneys insist Minneapolis is meeting and funding the mandated number of sworn officers dictated by its current population.

They asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit, but the petitioners hope the lawsuit spurs action across the street at City Hall.

The city council’s certainly made some interesting moves this year.

In June, member Tammy Morales, essentially, went to bat for burglary:

“I don’t want to hear is for our constituents to be told to be civil, not to be reactionary, to be told looting doesn’t solve anything.”

This is dangerous.

Socialist Seattle Councilmember Tammy Morales defending the weekend violence, telling her comrades on the Council:

"I don't want to hear is for our constituents to be told to be civil, not to be reactionary, to be told looting doesn't solve anything." pic.twitter.com/NVUBfYVrwS

— (((Jason Rantz))) on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) June 2, 2020

Later that month, RedState’s Nick Arama served up the article “Three Minneapolis City Council Members Who Voted to Defund Police Are Getting Taxpayer-Funded Private Security.”

Apparently, not everyone in town’s hired private guards.

Sondra Samuels put it this way: