A video posted on X shows Somali-American police officers in Minnesota addressing community members in Somali—not in English—during what appears to be an outreach event. The clip was shared by user CheckMate (@Checkmatedsl) on November 22, 2025, and has attracted over a million views.
At the registration, the officers speak exclusively in Somali. According to translated captions circulated around the post, one officer says, “We came to this country as refugees. Now that we are enlisting, we work for our own people. [Somalians].” Another official adds, “Whether in their country or here, Somali officials will serve you. We know your language, your culture, and we are with our own people, day and night.”
The framing of the video — which emphasizes that the officers were she doesn’t speak english and appeared to promise service specifically to Somali residents — raising concerns about whether these remarks align with the expectation that the police serve the entire public impartially.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali diaspora in the United States, with estimates ranging from 70,000 to more than 80,000 residents concentrated in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area.
Somali-American officers make up a small but visible portion of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). The agency has recruited heavily from the Somali community, including hiring its first female Somali-American officer, Ikran Mohamed, in 2024.
Police officials say Somali-speaking officers can help navigate language barriers in certain neighborhoods. However, the newly released video – which shows officers speaking only Somali and reportedly promising service specifically to Somali residents – has renewed scrutiny over whether such messages risk creating perceptions of favouritism, divided loyalties, or blurred lines between cultural awareness and sworn public duty.
The wider context includes recent controversy involving the MPD’s relationship with Somali youth. Earlier this year, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara apologized for comments linking “East African children” to crime.
The department featured in the video has not released a statement clarifying where the outreach event took place, whether the translations circulating online are accurate, or whether the officers’ remarks reflect department policy.
With the videos circulating widely and raising questions about impartial policing, many Minnesotans are calling for clarification from the department and clearer expectations for officers involved in specific community outreach.