# Minnesota

Minnesota’s Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board) licenses peace officers, and a felony conviction revokes a license automatically. Since 2023 the State has rewritten the POST rules to bar hiring anyone listed on the National Decertification Index, let the Board discipline conduct that brings no criminal charge, banned officers from hate and extremist groups, required agencies to hand misconduct files to the Board, and made Board-ordered inquiries into complaints discretionary.

Source: https://uscli.org/officer-certification-tracker/minnesota

## At a glance

- **Certifying body:** Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST Board). It licenses peace officers and part-time peace officers, including tribal-agency and railroad peace officers ([Minn. Stat. 626.84, subd. 1](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.84); 626.841; 626.843). No other body licenses peace officers.
- **Statute:** Minn. Stat. 626.84 to 626.863: the Board, licensing, training, and required policies. Key sections: 626.8431 (automatic revocation on felony), 626.8432 (grounds for discipline), 626.8436 (hate and extremist group ban, 2023), 626.8452 (deadly force), 626.8457 (conduct policy and misconduct reporting), 626.8475 (duty to intercede), 626.87 (background checks), and 626.89 (Peace Officer Discipline Procedures Act). Complaint intake is in 214.10, subds. 10 and 11. Rules are in [Minn. R. ch. 6700](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6700/full).
- **Minimum standards:** By statute the Board “shall” adopt rules on physical, mental, and educational fitness, citizenship, driver’s licenses, and conduct. Under [Minn. R. 6700.0700](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6700.0700/), before employment the agency “must establish and document” that the applicant is a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the United States; holds a driver’s license; passed a background investigation under 6700.0670; has no felony and none of the listed nonfelony convictions; is not on the National Decertification Index and has had no license revoked anywhere; is free of discriminatory conduct; has no hate or extremist group or criminal gang conduct; is fingerprinted, with results from the BCA and FBI; passed a medical exam and a psychological screening (6700.0675); and has emergency medical responder-level training or completes it within the first six months of employment. Officers licensed on June 1, 2023 are exempt from some items for conduct before that date. Students who enrolled before January 1, 2023 are exempt from the same items for conduct before that date if they complete the program and pass the licensing exam before December 31, 2028.
- **Decertification:** Mandatory: a license is “automatically revoked” on a felony conviction, which includes a stayed adjudication, an admission of guilt, or a no contest plea (626.8431). Discretionary: the Board “may” refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate, or may suspend or revoke a license, for fraud in obtaining a license, failure to meet licensing requirements, a violation of the hate-group ban in 626.8436, or a violation of the conduct standards in ch. 6700 ([626.8432, subd. 1](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.8432)). Rule 6700.1600 lists those standards, including excessive or unauthorized force, failure to intercede or report, falsification, mishandling evidence, discriminatory conduct, and revocation elsewhere. The Board may act whether or not criminal charges result.
- **Public decertification list:** No statute requires a published list of revoked licenses. License numbers, license status, and continuing education records kept by the Board are public data, as are final disciplinary orders and agreed resolutions ([13.41, subd. 5](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13.41)). The Board “must” post an annual report of summary misconduct data (626.8457, subd. 3(e)). Whether the Board offers a public license lookup could not be checked from official sources on October 19, 2026; mn.gov/post returned a bot challenge.
- **National Decertification Index:** Named in rule; no statute. An applicant must “not be listed on the National Decertification Index” or have had a law enforcement license, certification, or authorization revoked or rescinded in any jurisdiction (Minn. R. 6700.0700, subp. 1, item E). Officers licensed on June 1, 2023 are exempt for conduct before that date, unless the license was inactive for more than 12 consecutive months after June 1, 2023. Some students who enrolled before 2023 are also exempt.
- **Continuing training:** By rule, renewing a three-year license requires 48 hours of continuing education (Minn. R. 6700.1000). By statute, in-service training in crisis intervention, conflict management, cultural diversity and implicit bias, and, since 2023, bias-crime response “shall” total at least 16 credits per three-year cycle, with at least 6 hours of crisis intervention and 4 hours of autism training ([626.8469](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.8469)). Courses on “excited delirium” may not be certified, credited, or provided (626.8437, 2024).

## Changes, 2023 to 2026

- Aug 1, 2026 — **Disciplinary interviews: a broader “formal statement,” and electronic recording required** — Laws 2026, ch. 59, secs. 9 and 10 (HF 1410), amending Minn. Stat. 626.89, subds. 1 and 8 · Signed April 29, 2026; effective August 1, 2026 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets August 1) — A “formal statement” now means questioning an officer to obtain “information” to be used as a basis for discipline or as evidence in a disciplinary proceeding. Before, it meant obtaining a recorded, stenographic, or signed statement to be used as evidence. A complete record of each session “must” now be made by electronic recording; the “or otherwise” option is struck. The officer still gets a free copy or transcript on request. — **For officers:** More questioning sessions now count as formal statements under the Discipline Procedures Act, and each one must be recorded electronically. — [Laws 2026, ch. 59](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2026/0/Session+Law/Chapter/59/)[Minn. Stat. 626.89](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.89)
- Dec 16, 2024 — **New conduct standard: failing to comply with a Board order** — Minn. R. 6700.1600, subp. 1, item F, amended at 49 SR 628 (proposed at 48 SR 875 and adopted as proposed) · Notice of adoption published December 9, 2024; effective December 16, 2024, five working days later under Minn. Stat. 14.18 — Failing to “comply with any order of the board” becomes a listed violation of the conduct standards (new item F(4)). The catch-all moves to F(5). — **For officers:** Ignoring a Board order is now itself a ground for discipline. — [State Register 49:24](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/state_register/49/24/)[Minn. R. 6700.1600 versions](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6700.1600/versions)
- Jul 1, 2024 — **BCA must investigate every officer-involved death; a prosecutor who declines to charge must disclose the file** — Laws 2024, ch. 123, art. 3, sec. 6, amending Minn. Stat. 626.5534 · Signed May 24, 2024; effective July 1, 2024 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — The BCA’s Use of Force Investigations Unit has existed since 2020 (299C.80). New subd. 3 says it “must” investigate any officer-involved death, unless the subject is a BCA officer. Agencies “must” fully cooperate. The report goes to the county prosecutor. If the prosecutor finds no basis to charge, the prosecutor “must” at the same time publicly disclose the decision and all inactive investigative data in the report that are public under 13.82, subd. 7 or other law. — **For officers:** After a death involving your use of force, expect a BCA investigation, and public release of the file if no charges are filed. — [Laws 2024, ch. 123](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2024/0/Session+Law/Chapter/123/)[Minn. Stat. 626.5534](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.5534)
- Jul 1, 2024 — **Training on “excited delirium” banned** — Laws 2024, ch. 123, art. 3, sec. 9, new Minn. Stat. 626.8437 · Signed May 24, 2024; effective July 1, 2024 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — The Board “may not” certify, credit, or reimburse any course that includes training on detecting or using the term “excited delirium,” including similar terms. Agencies “may not” provide such a course, directly or through a third party. Training on responding to and caring for a person in crisis is still allowed. — **For officers:** Courses that teach “excited delirium” no longer earn POST credit. — [Laws 2024, ch. 123](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2024/0/Session+Law/Chapter/123/)[Minn. Stat. 626.8437](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.8437)
- Jul 1, 2024 — **Board complaint inquiries become discretionary** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, sec. 3, and Laws 2024, ch. 123, art. 3, sec. 2, amending Minn. Stat. 214.10, subd. 10 · Effective July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024 (no section dates; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — Before 2023, when the Board received a complaint, the executive director “shall” designate an agency to investigate and “shall” order it to inquire. The 2023 act changed the order to “may.” The 2024 act deleted the duty to designate an investigating agency for every complaint. The executive director now “may order an appropriate law enforcement agency” to inquire, and the 30-day written summary is due only “if directed to complete an investigation.” — **For officers:** A complaint to the POST Board no longer automatically triggers an outside inquiry. — [Laws 2024, ch. 123](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2024/0/Session+Law/Chapter/123/)[Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 214.10](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/214.10)
- Aug 1, 2023 — **No retaliation against officers who intercede in or report excessive force** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, secs. 14 and 15, new Minn. Stat. 626.8452, subds. 1b and 1c · Signed May 19, 2023; effective August 1, 2023, for causes of action arising on or after that date — An agency “shall not” discharge, discipline, threaten, retaliate against, or otherwise penalize an officer for interceding or reporting under 626.8475 or the agency’s excessive-force policy. A court may order back pay and reinstatement, and the officer may sue for damages, costs, reasonable attorney fees, and injunctive relief. Fellow officers and agency employees also “may not” threaten, harass, or retaliate; they are subject to discipline, and the targeted officer may sue. — **For officers:** If you are punished for stopping or reporting excessive force, you can sue. — [Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 626.8452](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.8452)
- Jul 1, 2023 — **Hate and extremist group ban becomes a licensing ground; Board told to adopt rules for non-criminal misconduct** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, secs. 10 to 12: new Minn. Stat. 626.843, subd. 1c and 626.8436; 626.8432, subd. 1 amended · Signed May 19, 2023; effective July 1, 2023 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — New 626.8436: a peace officer “may not” join, support, advocate for, keep membership in, or participate in a hate or extremist group or a criminal gang. The ban does not cover conduct the agency sanctions as part of official duties. The section defines the groups and lists conduct that shows participation, such as spreading material, promotion on social media, insignia or tattoos, contributions, and attending events. A violation is now a ground on which the Board “may” deny, suspend, or revoke a license (626.8432, subd. 1). New 626.843, subd. 1c: by January 1, 2024, the Board “must” adopt rules letting it discipline a licensee for violating a ch. 6700 conduct standard whether or not criminal charges have been filed. — **For officers:** Taking part in a hate or extremist group can cost you your license, with or without a criminal case. — [Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 626.8436](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.8436)
- Jul 1, 2023 — **Agencies must hand misconduct files to the Board and report officers who leave during an investigation** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, secs. 16 and 17, new Minn. Stat. 626.8457, subds. 4 and 5 · Signed May 19, 2023; effective July 1, 2023 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — On written notice of a Board investigation, the chief law enforcement officer, city, county, or public official “must” cooperate. On written request, they “shall” provide all requested public and private data on the alleged misconduct, including discipline, arbitration, settlements, and investigative files with body camera video. Confidential data must be disclosed only when the Board says it is necessary. If a licensee is discharged or resigns after conduct that starts an investigation, the chief “must” report it to the Board and provide the data, whether or not the officer was charged or the internal investigation was finished. Exceptions cover an active criminal investigation or case on the same incident, and an active internal investigation for up to 45 days from the Board’s request. Reporters are immune from civil and criminal liability unless they gave false information intending to harm reputation. — **For officers:** Resigning during an investigation does not keep the file from the Board. — [Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 626.8457](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.8457)
- Jul 1, 2023 — **Body camera video of deaths from force: family viewing within 5 days, public release within 14 days** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, secs. 1, 2, and 19, amending Minn. Stat. 13.825, subds. 2 and 3, and 626.8473, subd. 3 · Signed May 19, 2023; effective July 1, 2023 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — When a person dies from an officer’s use of force, the agency “must” let the next of kin, their legal representative, and the other parent of the deceased’s child inspect all body camera data within five days of a request. The agency “may” deny if it finds a compelling reason that inspection would interfere with an active investigation, with a prompt written reason. The agency “shall” release the data publicly within 14 days of the incident unless the chief asserts in writing that release would interfere with an ongoing investigation. Data documenting deadly force “must” be kept indefinitely. Agency camera policies must now require wearing the camera at or above the midline of the waist, using it when working under another agency’s or federal command, and not altering or destroying recordings before the retention period ends. — **For officers:** Wear your camera at or above the waist and keep it on when working under another agency’s command. — [Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 13.825](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/13.825)[Minn. Stat. 626.8473](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.8473)
- Jul 1, 2023 — **Statute now sets the BCA and FBI fingerprint check for officer applicants** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, secs. 21 to 24: new Minn. Stat. 626.87, subd. 1a; subds. 2, 3, and 5 amended · Signed May 19, 2023; effective July 1, 2023 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — The POST rule already required applicants to be fingerprinted, with cards forwarded to the BCA and the FBI (Minn. R. 6700.0700). The act puts the check in statute: the hiring agency “must” request a BCA criminal history check, including an FBI national fingerprint search, on each applicant for a licensed peace officer position or a position leading to one. The BCA returns the results to the agency, which may share them with the Board to decide licensing eligibility. Employers must also disclose employment information when a person is a candidate at a law enforcement agency “in any other capacity.” Requests may be signed by an “authorized representative” instead of a sworn officer. — **For officers:** Your fingerprint results may be shared with the POST Board when it decides your licensing eligibility. — [Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 626.87](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.87)
- Jul 1, 2023 — **Local civilian oversight councils may investigate, subpoena, find misconduct, and recommend discipline** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, sec. 25, amending Minn. Stat. 626.89, subd. 17 · Signed May 19, 2023; effective July 1, 2023 (no section date; Minn. Stat. 645.02 sets July 1 for acts with appropriation items) — Before 2023, a civilian review body “shall not” make findings of fact or impose discipline, and its recommendations were advisory only. Now a local government “may” create a civilian oversight council that can make findings on a complaint and recommend discipline. Once any criminal investigation or prosecution ends, the council may investigate, hire an investigator, and, subject to other law, subpoena testimony and documents. Reports finding misconduct “must” go to the chief and to the Board’s complaint committee. The chief “shall” cooperate but need not agree, and “shall” explain any decision not to carry out a recommendation within the chief’s authority. — **For officers:** A local council’s misconduct finding now goes to the POST Board as well as your chief. — [Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 626.89](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.89)
- May 30, 2023 — **POST rule rewrite: National Decertification Index check, Brady-Giglio background inquiry, conduct standards, and required policies** — Minn. R. 6700.0100, 6700.0670, 6700.0675, 6700.0700, 6700.1600, 6700.1610, 6700.1615, and others; notice of adoption at 47 SR 1120 (proposed at 46 SR 1489) · Notice of adoption published May 22, 2023; effective May 30, 2023, five working days later under Minn. Stat. 14.18 — Background investigation (new 6700.0670): the applicant “must” give a personal history, list every agency applied to in the past six years, consent to a social media review, and, if currently or previously licensed, authorize release of prior personnel and discipline records and disclose findings of abuse of authority, bias, dishonesty, excessive force, mishandled evidence, or conduct that led to a Brady-Giglio disclosure. The agency “must” ask prosecutors and prior agencies about the same conduct. The chief “must” notify the Board within 10 days when an investigation starts or finds a disqualification. For seasonal or temporary hires, the rule allows a check limited to criminal history and driving record. — Selection standards (6700.0700): new items bar applicants listed on the National Decertification Index or revoked anywhere, and applicants with discriminatory conduct or hate-group or gang conduct. The list of disqualifying nonfelony convictions grows. Citizenship now includes eligibility to work in the United States. The old physical strength and agility exam and the agency oral exam were dropped from the minimum standards. Fingerprinting and a background search were already required. Current licensees and pre-2023 students are exempt from some new items, as described above. — Conduct standards (6700.1600) let the Board discipline listed conduct, including excessive force and failure to intercede or report, and the rule reaches the listed criminal offenses “regardless of whether or not the conduct results in criminal charges.” Conduct before June 1, 2023 is judged by the standards then in effect. New 6700.1615 lists 15 named agency policies based on Board models, a catch-all, and equipment policies. Several, such as use of force and pursuit, were already required by statute. — **For officers:** If you are on the National Decertification Index, a Minnesota agency cannot hire you unless an exemption applies. — [State Register 47:47](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/state_register/47/47/)[Minn. R. ch. 6700](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6700/full)[Prior 6700.0700](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/pdf/6700.0700/2014-01-18%2006:55:19+00:00)
- May 20, 2023 — **Deadly-force threat no longer must be articulated “by the law enforcement officer”** — Laws 2023, ch. 52, art. 10, sec. 8, amending Minn. Stat. 609.066, subd. 2 · Signed May 19, 2023; effective May 20, 2023, the day after final enactment — The threat that justifies deadly force must still “be articulated with specificity,” but the words “by the law enforcement officer” were struck. The rest of the 2020 standard is unchanged. — **For officers:** The threat must still be articulated with specificity; the rest of the deadly-force standard is unchanged. — [Laws 2023, ch. 52](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/2023/0/Session+Law/Chapter/52/)[Minn. Stat. 609.066](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.066)

## Not yet in force and pending

- **Inspector General officers, January 1, 2027:** 2026 ch. 92 adds Inspector General Anti-Fraud and Waste Bureau officers to the peace officer definition in 626.84, subd. 1. [Minn. Stat. 626.84](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/626.84)

Face-covering bills HF 4405 and SF 4448 would have barred face coverings only for federal officers exercising immigration authority. They were introduced in March 2026 and got no action after authors were added. The 2026 session has adjourned, and bills do not carry over into the 2027–2028 biennium. The POST Board website could not be reached on October 19, 2026, so proposed rules posted only there were not checked.

## Checked and unchanged

- Minn. Stat. 626.8431 (automatic revocation on felony), 626.8475 (duty to intercede and report), and 626.841 (the Board): no 2023–2026 amendments.
- Minn. Stat. 626.84, subd. 1 changed only which officers are covered: railroad peace officers added in 2024, and Commerce Fraud Bureau officers removed in 2025.
- Minn. Stat. 626.8435 and 626.8457, subd. 3 were amended in 2024 only to rename the advisory council. 626.8469 and 626.8451 gained bias-crime training content in 2023; hour totals are unchanged.
- Minn. R. ch. 6700: no 2023–2026 history entries other than 47 SR 1120 and 49 SR 628. The 48-hour renewal rule (6700.1000) is unchanged.