27-year-old Mexican green card holder Lesly Vera becomes Minneapolis' first non-U.S. citizen police officer, alongside Somali-American Ikran Mohamed.

Lesly Vera, a 27-year-old green card holder from Mexico, made history as the first non-U.S. citizen sworn in as a Minneapolis police officer. Alongside her, Ikran Mohamed became the first Somali-American woman in the department. A recent state law change enabled Vera's appointment, reflecting efforts to reverse recruitment challenges faced since George Floyd's death in 2020. With a new contract raising salaries, MPD anticipates a larger force by the end of 2024.

September 29, 2024
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