A video posted on X shows Somali-American police officers in Minnesota addressing community members in Somali—not English— during what appears to be an outreach event. The clip was shared by the user CheckMate (@Checkmatedsl) on November 22, 2025, and has drawn more than one million views.

In the recording, the officers speak exclusively in Somali. According to translated captions circulated with the post, one officer says, “We came to this country as refugees. Now that we’re hired, we work for our own people [Somalians].” Another officer adds, “Whether in the homeland or here, Somalian officers serve you. We know your language, your culture, and we stand with our own people, day and night.”

The video’s framing — highlighting that the officers were not speaking English and appeared to pledge service specifically to Somali residents — has raised concerns about whether such remarks align with the expectation that 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 Somali-American woman officer, Ikran Mohamed, in 2024.

Police officials have said Somali-speaking officers can help navigate language barriers in certain neighborhoods. However, the newly surfaced video — featuring officers speaking only in Somali and reportedly pledging service specifically to Somali residents — has renewed scrutiny over whether such messaging risks creating perceptions of favoritism, divided loyalties, or blurred lines between cultural outreach and sworn public duty.

The broader context includes recent controversy involving MPD’s relationship with Somali youth. Earlier this year, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara apologized for comments linking “East African kids” to crime.

The department seen in the video has not released a statement clarifying where the outreach event occurred, whether the translations circulating online are accurate, or whether the officers’ remarks reflect department policy.

With the footage spreading widely and prompting questions about impartial policing, many Minnesotans are calling for clarification from the department and clearer expectations for officers engaging in community-specific outreach.