Democrats float special office to handle deadly force cases

Some lawmakers want to set up a special state prosecutor to handle police deadly force incidents. 

Minneapolis Democratic Senator Scott Dibble introduced a bill Monday to create the new office to investigate and prosecute all cases of deadly force in Minnesota. It would be governed by a five-member board that includes three public spots. 

It comes after county prosecutors decided not to charge the Minneapolis officers involved in the death of 24-year-old Jamar Clark.  Minneapolis police forwarded the case to the state’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate. 

But it may be too late to pass this year.  A key deadline for legislation to proceed in this year’s shortened session passed late last month.