Minnesota Law Enforcement Agencies Hire IACP to Conduct Independent Review of June 14 Political Assassinations

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Several Minnesota law enforcement agencies have commissioned the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to conduct an independent after-action review of the multi-agency response to the June 14, 2025, politically motivated shootings that claimed the lives of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, and left State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, critically injured.

Authorities have described the attacks—carried out in Brooklyn Park and Champlin—as targeted political assassinations, marking one of the most devastating acts of violence against elected officials in Minnesota’s history.

Scope and Purpose of the Review

The external review will analyze the full 43-hour period between the first 911 call and the arrest of the suspect, 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, who was later charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. Investigators say Boelter allegedly impersonated a police officer to gain entry into the victims’ homes in coordinated attacks against Democratic state lawmakers.

The IACP’s review will focus on assessing the multi-agency response, interdepartmental coordination, communications systems, and tactical decision-making during the incident. It aims to identify strengths, weaknesses, and lessons learned to improve future crisis response strategies across Minnesota and beyond.

Participating agencies include:

• Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) — including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and Minnesota State Patrol
• Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
• Brooklyn Park Police Department
• Champlin Police Department
• New Hope Police Department

Contract Details and Oversight

The review will be conducted under a $429,500 contract, jointly funded by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and Hennepin County, with additional cost-sharing from participating city governments. The agreement has been approved by local governing bodies including the Brooklyn Park and Champlin City Councils.

According to DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson, the goal is to ensure full transparency and accountability.

“This review represents Minnesota’s commitment to learning, improving, and building public trust,” Jacobson said. “We want to know what worked, what didn’t, and how we can strengthen our response to complex, targeted violence.”

The Virginia-based IACP, the world’s largest professional association for police executives, is expected to complete the report within six months. Officials confirmed that the final findings will be made public once the review concludes.

Background: The June 14 Attacks

The coordinated shootings began in the early morning hours of June 14, 2025, when Boelter allegedly attacked the Hoffman residence in Champlin, seriously wounding Senator Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Hours later, authorities say he targeted the Hortmans at their home in Brooklyn Park, fatally shooting both.

The shootings triggered one of the largest manhunts in Minnesota history, involving local, state, and federal agencies. Boelter was later arrested after a 43-hour search and is currently facing state and federal charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors have publicly described the crimes as politically motivated acts of domestic terrorism.

Building Trust Through Transparency

Calls for an independent review gained momentum in the months following the assassinations, with lawmakers and community leaders urging an outside examination of the law enforcement response. The IACP review, officials say, will serve as both a critical accountability measure and a framework for national best practices in responding to targeted political violence.

The IACP has previously led similar reviews following mass-casualty and politically motivated incidents nationwide. Minnesota officials said the forthcoming report will help inform policy reforms, training standards, and emergency communication protocols statewide.

“This process is about ensuring that our state learns from tragedy,” said Commissioner Jacobson. “It’s about improving how we protect public servants and the communities they represent.”

MinneapoliMedia