Minneapolis Police Overtime Soars To Record $28 Million in 2024 Amid Staffing Shortfalls

Minneapolis Police Overtime Soars To Record $28 Million in 2024 Amid Staffing Shortfalls

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – July 13, 2025 – The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) spent a record $28 million on overtime in 2024, exceeding its planned budget by $12 million. This significant increase, nearly quadrupling pre-2020 figures, is largely attributed to persistent staffing shortages following a wave of officer departures in the wake of George Floyd's murder and the subsequent unrest.

The unprecedented overtime spending has raised concerns about the department's fiscal management and the sustainability of its current operational model. One Minneapolis police lieutenant, for instance, earned approximately $500,000 last year, with nearly half of that total derived from overtime pay. In fact, 66 MPD employees collected over $100,000 in overtime in 2024, with 11 exceeding $200,000.

Police Chief Brian O'Hara has acknowledged the issue, noting that the department was operating with around 560 sworn officers in spring 2024, a significant drop from nearly 900 officers in 2019 and the lowest in at least four decades. This understaffing has forced the MPD to rely heavily on overtime to cover basic functions, including responding to 911 calls and staffing precincts.

"We're using overtime every day to do the most basic functions of a police department," Chief O'Hara stated in a previous budget presentation to the City Council, emphasizing the "critically low staffing right now."

A contributing factor to the inflated overtime costs is the "critical staffing overtime" program, implemented in late 2022, which pays officers double their hourly rate for covering staffing gaps. This "double time" accounted for roughly half of the total overtime expenditure in 2024. While intended as an incentive for officers to volunteer for extra shifts, it also contributes to a cycle where higher earnings from overtime can influence pension calculations, potentially incentivizing officers to retire after five years of elevated pay.

The MPD's struggle to meet its mandated staffing levels, set by the city charter at 1.7 officers per 1,000 residents (approximately 731 officers for Minneapolis), has directly impacted the budget. The savings from being understaffed are effectively being redirected to cover the escalating overtime costs.

Compounding the issue, Chief O'Hara has ordered an audit of 2024 overtime spending, which has already uncovered instances of officers violating department policy, such as claiming to have worked too many hours without taking the required eight-hour break in a 24-hour period. Internal Affairs is currently investigating at least three officers in connection with these findings.

Mayor Jacob Frey has expressed optimism about reducing overtime spending in the future, citing an increase in police department applications. The department has also implemented new recruitment strategies, including historic raises of nearly 22% for officers. However, the lengthy process of training and integrating new recruits means that significant relief from overtime costs may take time to materialize.

The ongoing reliance on substantial overtime payments underscores the challenges facing the Minneapolis Police Department as it grapples with rebuilding its ranks, complying with reform mandates, and maintaining public safety services in the city.

MinneapoliMedia