The Minneapolis City Auditor’s 60-page audit concluded the Neighborhood Safety Department lacks consistent oversight of violence-interruption contracts, creating heightened risk of fraud and misuse. Auditors cited missing routine site visits, permissive billing practices that allow self-attestation and partial documentation, and inconsistent training records. The report also raised concerns about potential political influence in contracting. The review comes as one contractor faces charity fraud charges and Mayor Jacob Frey proposes a budget cut for the program.
Audit Finds Minneapolis Violence-Interruption Program Lacks Oversight, At Risk Of Fraud
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks during the 94th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Jan. 29, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)
An audit by the Minneapolis City Auditor's Office has found the city’s taxpayer-funded violence-interruption initiative vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse due to weak oversight of millions in contracts with community organizations.
Audit Highlights Weak Monitoring and Billing Practices
The 60-page review examined how the Neighborhood Safety Department manages contracts with nonprofit groups hired to deliver violence-prevention and outreach services as alternatives to traditional policing. Auditors found the department has not routinely performed site visits to verify services and that its written policy on site visits remains in draft form and unimplemented.
Rather than following a formal monitoring schedule, contract managers sometimes rely on informal check-ins with community groups, the audit said. The city has spent more than $36 million on community-focused public-safety programs since the death of George Floyd in 2020, including efforts that deploy so-called "violence interrupters" to mediate conflicts, provide outreach and connect people with services.
Billing, Documentation, and Training Shortfalls
Auditors flagged multiple financial oversight weaknesses. The Neighborhood Safety Department does not consistently require complete supporting documentation—such as employee timecards—when invoices are submitted. In some cases contractors have been allowed to self-attest to work performed and provide partial documentation with the expectation of later follow-up, a practice auditors said increases risk.
The review also found inconsistent documentation of required training, including a two-hour financial compliance course mandated for organizations that receive more than $50,000 from the city.
"There are currently no safeguards in place to ensure the contracting process is not influenced, directly or indirectly, by those who have direct channels with elected officials," the audit stated.
Neighborhood Safety Department Director Amanda Harrington acknowledged that some contractors had contacted the mayor’s office and City Council members about contract negotiations and delayed invoice processing after the audit was released.
Criminal Charges Add Scrutiny
The audit comes as the program faces intensified scrutiny following state charges against We Push for Peace, a Minneapolis nonprofit that received roughly $2 million from the city between 2021 and 2025. Prosecutors allege the group's former executive director, Trahern Pollard, diverted charitable assets for personal expenses, including luxury vehicles, trips and child support payments. Pollard has previously described himself as a crime-reduction expert with ties to local and state officials.
Budget And Political Debate
The city has budgeted $5.5 million for the violence-interrupter program in 2026. But Mayor Jacob Frey—who once supported expanding the program—has proposed cutting the budget by $2.6 million in fiscal 2027, calling the effort "noble" but saying it has not produced the results taxpayers deserve.
The audit's findings underscore the need for stronger contract controls, consistent monitoring, and transparent financial documentation to protect public funds and preserve community trust in alternatives to traditional policing.
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