Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Force Investigations Unit
BCA FIU
Summary
Created by Minn. Stat. §299C.80 (enacted 2020, effective 2021) following the murder of George Floyd, the BCA Force Investigations Unit independently investigates all officer-involved deaths and criminal sexual conduct by peace officers statewide. The special agent in charge is appointed by the BCA superintendent in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Safety. Agents are dedicated solely to FIU cases to avoid conflicts of interest; when a BCA officer is the subject, a county attorney designates an outside agency. The unit has no discipline authority and no explicit statutory subpoena power. It must post closed-case data publicly within 30 days and submit annual reports to the legislature by February 1.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Executive appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | Not specified |
| Removal standard | At will (weak protection) |
| Budget independence | Executive discretion |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Restricted |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Minnesota Statutes §299C.80 – Use-of-Force Investigations Unit
- Citation
- Minn. Stat. § 299C.80
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All peace officer-involved deaths and criminal sexual conduct by peace officers statewide