MN Supreme Court to review proposed police liability mandate

Supporters of a proposal to require Minneapolis police to carry personal liability insurance say they're filing briefs Friday for an emergency appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Backers submitted a petition this summer to amend the city's charter, requiring police to insure themselves. Supporters say the risk of premium increases would discourage police misconduct.

But both the Minneapolis City Council and a Hennepin County District Court judge declined to put the proposed charter amendment on the Nov. 8 ballot. They say state law would pre-empt the plan, so there is no point in asking voters.

The Committee for Professional Policing says the Minnesota Supreme Court has granted its request for an accelerated review of the lower court ruling.

Michelle Gross, a board member with the Committee for Professional Policing, says she hopes the court will hear arguments in the case next week.

"The other thing we have asked them to do specifically is to go ahead and put our proposed amendment on the ballot, and if they should decide later that it's not legal, then they can always cross it off," said Gross. "But the county is coming right up on its deadline for printing ballots to go, to be available for early voting."

A proposal to put another charter amendment to voters is also heading for the Supreme Court. That measure would raise the city's minimum wage to $15 an hour. The court will hear arguments in that case Aug. 30.