The Minnesota Twins announced Friday that they will be taking a fresh look at their ballpark security arrangements with the Minneapolis Police Department.
Though the division champions said in a statement that no changes are expected this season — when fans won't be allowed in Target Field — they added that they were re-evaluating the team's relationship with the police following the officer-involved death of George Floyd, which triggered nationwide riots in protest of police brutality. Four ex-officers have been charged in Floyd's death.
Most local professional sports teams use MPD for stadium and arena security.
For this year's shortened 60-game season, the Twins said they will continue to hire off-duty Minneapolis officers to help team security personnel.
"We have seen firsthand that there are individual officers within the MPD that are committed to creating a policing culture of accountability, respect, empathy and fairness," according to the statement.
For the 2021 season, however, the team said it will decide on security staffers "based on authentic progress toward significant reform within the Minneapolis Police Department and/or a community-embraced public safety model."
The statement said that the team encourages Minneapolis city leaders to be "tenacious" in advancing racial equality, and concluded: "There is no place for racism, inequality or injustice in our community."
In a statement, MPD said it was "pleased and honored" to continue protecting fans during Twins games and that it acknowledged "the need for true reform and transformational change creating a new MPD with key stakeholders" such as the Twins.