What happened
A recent audit by the Minneapolis City Auditor's Office found that the city's community peacekeeping program is at increased risk of fraud, waste, and abuse. The program, which was established after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, uses 'violence interrupters' to patrol high-crime areas and provide mental health counseling and conflict resolution services.
The audit discovered that the Neighborhood Safety Department, which oversees the program, does not regularly conduct site visits to ensure that services are being performed. The department's billing and payment practices were also flagged, with auditors finding that payments were made without sufficient documentation.
The audit also found that the department's lack of disclosure requirements concerning possible conflicts of interest and contract negotiations leaves the contracting process susceptible to political pressure. Several instances of politically connected contractors appealing to city officials to approve contracts in their favor were cited.
The findings come after one of the city's contractors was charged with charity fraud, and the mayor has proposed slashing the program's budget by $2.6 million. Some city council members are pushing back on the budget cuts, saying the program is integral to combatting crime.
