Minneapolis, MN – Recently, the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) confirmed that Sgt. Mark Hanneman, who fatally shot Amir Locke during a no-knock raid in 2022, is currently the instructor heading the MPD’s use-of-force training.
The Minneapolis delegation in the Minnesota House of Representatives released the following statement:
“The path to establishing trust between the Minneapolis Police Department and the community is greater transparency and accountability of police actions. The decision of the MPD to use Sgt. Mark Hanneman as the lead instructor for use-of-force training undermines those efforts.
“In light of the consent decree between the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis, which outlines a court-enforceable roadmap for transforming the culture, practices, and leadership of the MPD, appointing an officer involved in a controversial and tragic killing to lead training is inconsistent with the spirit of that agreement, and undermines community trust in the process.
“This sends the wrong message to the public and the victim's family, and raises serious concerns about the department’s commitment to reform. If we are to build a public safety system rooted in justice and trust, the leadership of that system must reflect the values of accountability, healing, and meaningful change.”
On the night of February 2, 2022, a Minneapolis Police Department SWAT team conducted a no-knock raid on an apartment where Amir Locke was asleep under a blanket on his cousin’s couch. Locke was not named in the warrant, nor was he a suspect in any crime. He had no criminal record.
The fatal shooting occurred less than two years after the murder of George Floyd, reigniting widespread outrage over another killing of a Black man by police. It also renewed scrutiny of MPD’s policies, particularly the use of no-knock warrants.
A KARE 11 investigation revealed that in the months leading up to Locke’s death, every no-knock warrant carried out by MPD targeted only people of color.
The Minneapolis Delegation for the 2025-2026 biennium in the House includes Rep. Michael Howard (51A), Rep. Fue Lee (59A), Rep. Esther Agbaje (59B), Rep. Sydney Jordan (60A), Rep. Mohamud Noor (60B), Rep. Katie Jones (61A), Rep. Jamie Long (61B), Rep. Aisha Gomez (62A), Rep. Anquam Mahamoud (62B), Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (63A), and Rep. Emma Greenman (63B).