Community Groups Demand Accountability from Mayor Frey Over Promotion of Officer Who Killed Amir Locke
Minneapolis, MN— The Racial Justice Network, Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB), CAIR MN, Families Supporting Families, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice, Black Lives Matter Minnesota, SWAE (Southwest Alliance for Equity), and Black Lives Matter Twin Cities will host a joint press conference on Tuesday, July 22 at 12:00 PM in the rotunda of Minneapolis City Hall to demand immediate action from Mayor Jacob Frey following the revelation that Officer Mark Hanneman—the officer who fatally shot Amir Locke during a no-knock raid in 2022—has been quietly promoted to sergeant and assigned to train other officers on use-of-force tactics within the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD)—without any public notice, disciplinary review, or independent investigation.
“This is a devastating betrayal of public trust and a slap in the face to Amir Locke’s family and our entire community,” said Nekima Levy Armstrong, attorney and founder of the Racial Justice Network, who released a public Open Letter to Mayor Frey calling for Hanneman’s removal, a full misconduct investigation, and immediate transparency from the mayor’s office.
Michelle Gross, President of CUAPB, added:
“Amir Locke should be alive today. The fact that the officer who killed him is now responsible for teaching others how to use force shows how entrenched this department remains in a culture of impunity. This is the exact opposite of accountability, and the community will not stand for it.”
Amir Locke, 22, was asleep on a couch when MPD SWAT officers stormed into the apartment and killed him within nine seconds—despite the fact that he was not a suspect. The killing reignited national outrage over no-knock warrants and police violence. Mayor Frey had previously promised to end the use of no-knock warrants during his 2021 re-election campaign.
Andre Locke, the father of Amir Locke, said:
“It’s like they’re trying to erase what happened to my son—to promote the man who took Amir’s life and put him in a position of leadership is beyond disrespectful. It’s retraumatizing. Amir was a beautiful soul. He didn’t deserve to die, and we don’t deserve this kind of cruelty. We want truth, transparency, and real accountability—not cover-ups and closed-door promotions.”
The press conference will include remarks from civil rights leaders, the family of Amir Locke, organizers, and impacted community members, followed by a call to action and demands for accountability.
Press Conference Details:
- Location: Minneapolis City Hall – Rotunda
- Date: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
- Time: 12:00 PM (Noon)
Demands include:
- Immediate removal of Officer Mark Hanneman from any training or leadership position
- An independent investigation into whether MPD policies were violated in Amir Locke’s killing
- A public explanation of Hanneman’s promotion and assignment
- A full review of all MPD use-of-force trainers, including their disciplinary histories, qualifications, and appropriateness to serve in a training role
- Full implementation of reforms recommended by the 2022 Community Safety Work Group