Police Policy Oversight Commission Meeting - March 18, 2026

[Note: The agenda and minutes list the meeting date as March 17, 2026, but the instructed date is March 18, 2026.]

The Police Policy Oversight Commission (PPOC) met on March 18, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at the Rochester Police Department North Station. The meeting included a presentation on the RPD Professional Standards Manager's role and complaint statistics, a discussion of the ordinance that creates the PPOC, and planning for future policy reviews.

Consent Calendar

• Approve Minutes: The minutes from the December 9, 2025, meeting were approved as amended, removing Commissioner Bruce Snyder from the vote under Old Business. Motion passed unanimously (5 ayes, 2 absent).
• Adopt Agenda: The agenda was adopted unanimously (5 ayes, 2 absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public were present.

Policy Review

• No policies were scheduled for review. Commissioner Linda Parker requested that Policy 413 (Immigration) be reviewed at the next meeting.

Rochester Police Department Updates

• Presentation by RPD Professional Standards Manager Mike Hartley: Mr. Hartley outlined his background and the role of the Professional Standards Manager in ensuring accountability and transparency. He reported that in 2025, the Rochester Police Department had approximately 65,000 calls for service. Out of these, there were 8 formal complaints: 3 sustained (involving two officers) and 5 unfounded. None of the complaints were for excessive force. Mr. Hartley emphasized that the low number of complaints reflects a culture of professionalism and accountability. He also explained the process for filing complaints and the importance of signed complaints per state statute.
• Presentation by Captain Paul Gronholz on Policy 300 (Use of Force): Captain Gronholz detailed the use-of-force documentation process, including incident reports and 'Response to Resistance' (R2R) forms. He explained that any use or show of force (e.g., pointing a firearm) must be documented and reviewed by sergeants, lieutenants, and himself. The data is used for training and is published on the department's public dashboard. He confirmed that there were no excessive force complaints in 2025.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance Review (Old Business 7.A): The commission discussed the city ordinance (Section 213) that establishes the PPOC, including its duties and composition. Key points:
  • The 2022 version attached to the agenda was outdated; a 2024 update removed the reference to the Human Rights Commission (which no longer exists) and changed the composition to one NAACP recommendation and six at-large members.
  • Commissioner Snyder suggested adding a representative from a disability organization.
  • The commission debated the second sentence of Section 213.2A, which allows the PPOC to review incidents where a member of the public alleges a policy violation. Several commissioners expressed concern that this conflicts with the Minnesota Data Practices Act and that the PPOC is not the appropriate body to review individual incidents. Captain Gronholz and Mr. Hartley noted that the department already has internal review processes and that the PPOC's value lies in providing independent community feedback on policies.
  • The commission agreed to provide the City Attorney's Office with a bulleted list of proposed ordinance changes at the next meeting.
  • There was discussion about the PPOC's 'rules and regulations' (set by the City Council) versus the ordinance; the commission is awaiting guidance from the mayor and council on potential changes.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Approve minutes: Passed unanimously (5 ayes, 2 absent).
  • Adopt agenda: Passed unanimously (5 ayes, 2 absent).
  • Adjourn: Passed unanimously (6 ayes, 1 absent).
• Next Steps:
  • The commission will prepare a bulleted list of proposed ordinance changes for the next meeting.
  • The RPD will present on ALPR policies (427 and 804) and Policy 413 (Immigration) at the next meeting.
  • The commission continues to await clarification on whether they can modify their own rules and regulations.

Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned at an unspecified time following a motion and second.