City of Minneapolis, MN Reimagining Public Safety, 2 Aug 2022

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: ReImagining Public Safety - Educational Video 1: Panel Discussion

Description

How are we ReImagining Public Safety? We brought together City staff to talk about new unarmed safety responses & the future of Minneapolis. Watch the full conversation joined by staff from the Office of Violence Prevention, Behavioral Crisis Response, Traffic Control, and Minneapolus Interrupters moderated by the Office of Performance and Innovation.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3pnZRsB #IAMMPLS

A

It takes all of us to be at the table with our resources with our collectiveness and to be able to sit back and listen and learn and engage and come put the resources on the table for all of minneapolis residents. We.

B

Can accomplish all those things, but again it's going to take all of us to do it.

C

How are we reimagining public safety after the murder of george floyd? We knew that the entire world was looking at our city to figure out if we were going to become an example of developing public safety solutions. City staff have been listening to the people's demands and today we're launching the reimagining public safety campaign. There's this hunger for change, so we saw it physically during the protest and so paul. I was just wondering if you could just share a little bit of like what does that mean? What does hungry for change? Look like for you.

D

More people are seeing that the system doesn't work for everybody, so I think we're moving in a good direction and again, like trey, said it's going to take all of us.

C

And I was hoping, if paul you could tell a bit about this change that we've made around establishing an overnight shift for parking previously, when your shift ended police had that responsibility overnight to respond to.

D

Some of those calls right correct.

C

Why did we do that? What impact is it having.

D

It is an arduous shift, it's hard, um but we have um three staff that go out and respond to three. Well one: complaints and 911 complaints.

C

It was very clear from our research that they said we want unarmed responses, because when we call police overnight things escalate, they get out of hand, it turns into something bigger than just a parking issue, and so, knowing that your team is one of the most diverse uses, a racial equity lens. How are you seeing your work out in the community? We're.

D

Not out there like just searching the neighborhood for parking violations, we're responding to people who need our services, we can respond very quickly and give the community better service. When you look like the community and you people see that they're represented in your department, you know they're more welcome than you and I.

C

Want to focus on an idea that you talked about at trophic that city services must work collectively to enhance safety for all of us. How are we doing that, and how can we continue to work together.

A

When I think about the different programs that the city already has in place that we can utilize, such as the cleanup program that they have in public works, we know that areas in our community that have high trash can sometimes be areas for crime and violence. We also know that better lighting and more lighting and neighborhoods off the corridor can also prevent violence. Tell.

C

Me about the shift that happened after the murder of george floyd, what was happening? What was the community responding? What were they demanding.

B

We've been complaining about police brutality for centuries. This is not new. This is a time and a place in a moment where we can actually unite.

B

So the interruptus is that group of men and women- that's in those trenches where all the gunshots are and all the dope selling and whatever else you want to call it we there. So when we out there we're not telling them what they can and can't do, what we're trying to do is offer them a different platform. Ultimately, they have to be the ones that do the work, but they can't say nobody is there that don't care. So, let's be clear: public safety.

B

When you reimagine this listen, you can ask a thousand people a question, but if your actions don't reciprocate what's coming out of your mouth, then guess what you spinning your wheel. So when we out there we're trying to empower these neighborhoods to become communities again,.

C

You know tell me a bit about this new program that we've created the behavioral crisis response team, the city's first unarmed response team for mental health crises. So.

E

The bcr we started in december of 2021 we're dispatched by 9-1-1 the response to mental health crisis, and usually we just try to give people resources so jono like set them up with resources. That's going to help them like four five months down the road, so they can, like you know, keep going back like the therapy like they have a psychiatrist. They can go to so resources that they can use long term that will help them prevent, like the circuit has been going through over and over.

E

A lot of people appreciate that, and we've been getting a lot of positive response from community members. I.

C

Actually want to throw it over to trey. If you can talk about why relationships are so important to the interrupters team, it's important.

B

Because we the same guys that was born and raised in those same communities, half of these young men and women that we see is our buddies, nieces and nephews, and they so guess what from a lived experience, it gives you an opportunity to hire young men.

B

If you can give somebody livable sustainable wages, you better believe that they all live. That's a part of the partnership and again it allows us to be present.

C

We all have our professional roles of what we're doing to serve the community, perhaps even a calling to serve the community, but we're also neighbors. We all.

D

Live in this community.

C

So I want to ask each of you when you think of a better future. What do you imagine for minneapolis.

A

I imagine minneapolis to be a thriving city for all individuals. I imagine minneapolis where children are not afraid to ride their bikes, that they can be children.

E

I grew up on like glendale penn avenue used to go through the park. Play basketball play football now that you can't do that and it's very dangerous to go out there and try to do that. For me, I would like for minneapolis to be like that again, where kids can go out.

D

I imagine that resources are shared with the least the last the lost and left out. I imagine a vibrant city and north minneapolis will have sidewalk cafes and streetscapes, and just you know it would look like any other community. I.

B

Imagine minneapolis having a dose of reality from an accountability standpoint, a lot of the resources that the city provides have been around for a long time, they're just not being utilized.

C

As we wrap up, I just want to thank each of you for being here for the service that you're doing for this community. The calling that you're receiving you are continuing to make this a safer and more thriving community for all of us. Thank you. Thank.

A

You thank you for having us. Thank you for having me.