Minneapolis officer reassigned after backlash over use-of-force training role

The Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot Amir Locke during a 2022 no-knock raid has been reassigned from his role leading the department’s use-of-force training.

Minneapolis officer Mark Hanneman reassigned

Sgt. Mark Hanneman, who was promoted to lead the training unit in September 2022, will now serve in the department’s newly formed Wellness Unit, Police Chief Brian O’Hara MPR News reports.

Following the backlash, Mayor Jacob Frey and Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette reportedly made the decision citing the impact on community trust.

“We have been working relentlessly to reform our policing practices while repairing community relationships,” O’Hara said. “We can’t afford to have anything distract from that progress.”

What happened to Amir Locke?

Amir Locke

Locke, a 22-year-old Black man who was not a target in the homicide investigation, was asleep on a couch when officers raided the apartment.

Body camera footage shows Locke reaching for a legally owned firearm before Hanneman fired three shots. Prosecutors declined to file charges, citing state statutes that allow officers to use deadly force if they perceive a threat.

Community outrage

Hanneman’s appointment to the training role drew sharp criticism from civil rights advocates and Locke’s family, who are pursuing a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the officer. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court rejected Hanneman’s attempt to dismiss the suit, allowing claims of excessive force and Fourth Amendment violations to proceed.

Community leaders say Hanneman’s reassignment is a necessary step, but not enough.

“Putting the officer who killed my son in charge of teaching others how to use force was a betrayal,” said Andre Locke, Amir’s father, during a press conference at City Hall. “We need truth, transparency, and real accountability — not quiet promotions and reassignment.”

Minneapolis officer Mark Hanneman’s new assignment

Hanneman will now help build out the department’s wellness initiatives, including peer support programs and mental health resources for officers. O’Hara said the move allows Hanneman to continue contributing to reform efforts while acknowledging the need to rebuild public trust.

The controversy comes amid broader efforts to overhaul MPD policies following the police killing of George Floyd. A state investigation found a pattern of racially discriminatory policing and excessive force, prompting a court-mandated reform agreement between the city and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.