April ’24 Report, Part 1: MPD and UMPD have a new coordination agreement

Posted on April 14, 2024 | Leave a comment

2-PAC’s first hybrid Zoom meeting opened on April 8 at 6:48  with 7 attenders in person and 4 on Zoom.   The Monroe Village community room had been 2-PAC’s meeting place for many years before Covid shut down all in person meetings.   It’s good to be back.

Nick Juarez is now the U of MN Director of Community Engagement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)   We didn’t catch the announcement of your new position, Nick.   Congratulations!

Inspector Torborg and Director Juarez are here to discuss the new coordination agreement between the MPD and the UMPD.   Plans will improve safety coordination in East Marcy Holmes, including Dinkytown and adjacent areas.  *[see related article at end of this report]

Inspector Torborg opened:   The first item is that the UMPD will be the primary responders to 911 calls for the area from 35W to 19th Ave SE in Marcy-Holmes East.   That is primarily student housing.    The 2nd Pct. gets about 500 calls from that area a year — 2 or 3 a day.   Given the MPD staffing issues and transit time to that area, having the UMPD there will help response time.   The UMPD is also planning to open a safety center, where all officers can stop, recharge, write up reports and more.   That will be a sub-station that both Departments can use.  That will be a welcome  amenity.

Spring Jam is April 20th.  Last year’s Jam was fairly calm and we expect this year’s will be as well.  

There are a couple of bigger concerts scheduled as well [Morgan Walen for 2 nights in June, and Metallica for 2 nights in August — EQ  ]

Traffic issues:   The Stonearch Bridge will be closed for structural work for two years  — half at a time.   That will slow the foot and bike traffic going back and forth.    The 2nd Pct has been working with CM Mike Rainville who contacted trained Violence Interrupters, including Somali Mothers.   We’ll try to get some of those this summer also.  

QQ: about putting steel plates on the roads to discourage the doughnut drivers.  

Inspector:  That will wait until after the snow season.   Plus, the State Highway Patrol has worked to cut down hot rodding.     We’re also working on “street squeezing”, cutting down the road width, which slows traffic down.

Nick Juarez:   Since the beginning of the year, UMPD has also had overtime officers every night of the week.   We also use double staffing over the weekends.   That will continue through the end of the school year.   Spring Jam was quiet last year but it was also cold.   I’m  hoping for cold weather or at least rain to keep the crowds down.

As the Inspector reported, we’ve expanded our zone.   We’ve also deployed all of our portable cameras and light trailers through Dinkytown as well as Marcy Holmes East.   We’ve been highlighting the Field House in response to some activity in that area.   More camera trailers have been put on University  and throughout the new expansion zone.   The light trailers, orange colored, are there to light up some of the darker areas–mostly on the outskirts of the Dinkytown business area.

We also have a contract with MetroTransit Police to have officers riding the three stops on campus.  That contract ends in May but they’re in conversations to extend that through September.

To people who are familiar with past events in the Dinkytown area, we’re making sure we are a visible presence in that area — both MPD and UMPD.

On the Safety Center.   That will be a place for officers to meet, rest, write reports and more, but it will also be a spot for the Dept. of Public Safety and the Community Engagement Team to provide resources to the people who live near Dinkytown and in Marcy Holmes East.  The majority of those people are students, faculty and staff.   We can provide resources,  help with filling out reports and 311s, and have an advocate available to work through how the process works after a police report has been filed.  They can follow the issue through the courts system.    The staff there will also follow through with other U of M services, like Boynton Health, Student Legal Services, and other services.   Hopefully that will be open by Fall Quarter.

One more thing we can look forward to is a major construction project for University Ave. and 4th St. SE.   That is due to start  this spring.    University Avenue will be down to two lanes with major congestion.   That can work to our advantage as well.

Inspector Torborg:  They’ve already started working on East Hennepin, as well.   That project will extend from the river to the junction of East Hennepin and Central Ave.

QQ:  With the Officers spread so thin, is there a plan to involve CSOs as well?

Inspectors:   We’ve used them for certain traffic events, parades and so on.   They are unarmed.    They do provide a “Uniformed” presence and they have radios, so they can call if there is a problem.  They are in various stages of their police training:  some are kids right out of high school and others are at the end of their training.  We have to be thinking of their safety.

CPS Ali:  Speaking of construction, there is also the  Lowry Avenue construction from Washington Street to  Central Avenue. That is supposed to start in April and continue to October.   They’re making it more pedestrian friendly.    Phase 1:  Lowry Ave.,  Washington to Johnson Sts.   2024-2025.  Phase 2: Lowry Ave.,  Marshall to Washington Sts. 2026- 27.

Inspector:  July 4 fireworks   We’ve had a lot of problems on Boom Island in the last few years.   This year, Boom Island will be a “Recommended Observation Area”. The planners haven’t announced where the launch site will be.   

The Inspector and others are talking about creating an “exclusion zone” to keep people from returning after the event.   One more issue:  July 4 is on a Thursday this year and Taste of Minnesota is on July 6th (Nicollet Mall).  The Twins are also playing here on the 4th as well.

Juarez:  Adding to it:  Freshman Orientation starts the second week of June.  There are always people on campus.

[EQ: other summer events that increase traffic through the 2nd Pct. include Father’s Day on the bluff, Aquatennial, State Fair, and Labor Day.   The Twins and Gopher sports bring in a lot of people too.].

 *See Star Tribune article:  https://tinyurl.com/bdea7ewb

Emilie Quast, Member

MPD Second Precinct Advisory Council (2-PAC)

1911 Central Ave NE

Minneapolis MN 55418

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April ’24 Report, Part 2: STATE OF THE PRECINCT

Posted on April 14, 2024 | Leave a comment

STATE OF THE PRECINCT

NIBRS Crime Metrics – 28 days 2024 2023    Prev.3 yrs
Assault offenses 68 77 74      
Incl. Domestic.Ag.Asslt. 1 4 6
Burglary, B&E 18 15 25
Vandalism 64 83 61
Homicide, non-neg. 0 0 0
Homicide, negligent 0 0
Larceny theft 130 145 164
MV Theft 68 183 87
Robbery 8 12 15    
Incl. car-jacking 6 6 9
Sex Offenses 5 4 6
Stolen Prop. Offences 0 2 4
Weapons law violations 3 4 4
Shots fired calls 24 10 20
Gun wound victims 2 0 1
28-day Crime statistics for 2024, 2023, and 3-year average

Assaults, Vandalism, Larceny Theft,  Burglary  are down from last year.   Burglary is down from the 3 year average.   Robbery theft is down while Sex offenses, Stolen Property Offenses and Weapons Law Violations are looking better.

BEST:  Motor Vehicle theft is way down.  Kia and Hyundai fixes must be helping, and we’re still urging people to get clubs.

Inspector:  Last week we had two stolen cars, which is high for the Second Precinct, but we’ve had higher.   The numbers are bouncing up and down.  It also has something to do with the timing of spring break. 

EQ:  Shots fired calls are way up.   I wonder if that is multiple reports of the same incident.

Inspector:  Sometimes it is that, but the dispatchers can sometimes determine that if they’re getting multiple calls about the same shot.   Sometimes the callers wait before they call or aren’t sure where the sound came from.   That makes it harder. 

EQ:  Gunshot wound victims? 

Inspector:  There is a wonderful  restaurant near 22nd and  University.  The license for the place states an early  pm close, but the owner decided to stay open later because a lot of his customers are Muslim who were fasting for Ramadan.   It became a gathering place. Licensing had previously spoken to the owner as had the Inspector, but the owner decided to stay open again and this fight broke out.   Some of the shots went into other buildings and into cars; two teenagers were hit.  

We’ve installed a camera wagon so we will have evidence if there are any further violations.   Licensing is talking about a revocation. The owner has protested that this was unfair because other places are open later.    However, we have a process in place:   if the owner had approached us ahead of time, he could have had a temporary permit to stay open later if his safety plan was adequate.   He didn’t do that.

Juarez:   I have a question:  Is there any further news on the Dinkytown tobacco shop incident?

Inspector: The shop is complying with all the rules.   I watched the video of that assault.   The victim was in a group of four people waiting for a friend to come out of the shop.  The suspect was just standing there and then attacked.   

The shop owner has always been cooperative with the police, supplying video and so on.  They do a lot of late night business and they want to stay open.   I know UMPD Chief Clark isn’t happy about that, but they are a licensed business.  There has been a lot of trouble in that area, but apparently the trouble is not related to their site.

City Attorney Okoronkwo:   Nothing exciting to report from either of my offices.  I am in contact regularly with your CPS to keep them current on proceeding in their precinct.

EQ: Anything further?

Inspector:   Reminder that MSTAT is this week:  Every week the Inspectors meet with Special Crimes, the Chief and all the Inspectors.   Every two months, a different Precinct hosts a meeting open to invited members of the public.

YouTube video of this meeting: https://youtu.be/0QW4d2pE64I

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March, ’24 Report, Part 1: Updates on Home Security

Posted on March 23, 2024 | Leave a comment

March 11, 2024   Call to order at  6:35pm  with  8 participants 

Rashid Ali, Crime Prevention Specialist [CPS], MPD Second Precinct.

The MPD offers a program called “Home Security Assessment”.   A CPS comes to your home for a walk through and a walk outside to assess what you have in place.  They make suggestions for changes to improve your safety at home and in your neighborhood.

It will help understanding some of these suggestions if you know there are three components to a criminal’s successful behavior.   They must have a DESIRE to commit the crime.  They must have the MEANS of committing the crime.  They must have the OPPORTUNITY to commit the crime.

We have no control over a criminal’s DESIRE or their MEANS to commit a crime.   We can prevent a crime by taking away the criminal’s OPPORTUNITY.   

When we take away a criminal’s OPPORTUNITY, we improve SECURITY in our neighborhood AND in our homes.

Home security depends on three layers for action:

OUTER PERIMETER  –  This includes resources like the Police Dept. and Precinct, the Fire Dept., the neighborhood association. Learn what those resources have for you. 

INNER PERIMETER  – This is your block and the people across the street.   How well do you know your neighbors?  Can you and your neighbors help each other by watching the house if someone’s out of town, or just noticing if something looks different.

DWELLING SECURITY   –   This will be covered more deeply in this presentation.

OUTER PERIMETER:

Minneapolis Property Information*  offers a lot of info.:   Where is your MPD Precinct Station?   Fire Station? 

That’s where you report suspected criminal activity or fire hazards.

What Ward do you live in?   Your Ward handles livability issues that are not criminal but should have city attention.

Your neighborhood organization may link you to special offers.   For example, Logan park is currently offering rebates for home security upgrades (max. $350).   Waite Park had a similar program in the past.

INNER PERIMETER:

Know that your security at home starts with the people on your block and other close neighbors.  Look at your block; meet your neighbors; know when the mail is delivered and what else happens on a daily basis.

When he does a home assessment, CPS Ali offers information on the advantages of joining or forming a Block Club. Block clubs increase home safety for neighbors, share updates about local events and education opportunities.   Anyone who’s interested can contact their CPS.**

What is a Block Club?

A Block Club is a team of neighbors who:

  • Work to solve community issues
  • Are informed and involved
    • Take advantage of email alerts from the local police and fire departments and the neighborhood assn.
    • Participate in citizens’ academies
  • Help reduce opportunities for crimes
    •   Use best prevention practices
    •   Are active bystanders
    •   Observe and report
  • Know each other

HOME ASSESSMENT

Before he shows up, CPS Ali looks at the MPD Crime Dashboard to see what the crime numbers look like in that neighborhood.*** If there are a lot of unforced entries to homes because they were not locked up, he’ll emphasize safety suggestions aimed at that.   Other common threads will be talked about.

INSIDE:  The garage is often the most vulnerable and attractive:  people leave expensive bikes, power tools and more in there.   Look at the lighting — motion activated lights actually can be a deterrent. 

Security:  When you are away, disable your garage door opener or secure the door in another way.   If thieves can get into your home directly from the garage, they will.

Never leave your remote door opener in the car.  Instead, use your phone app to unlock your garage.   

Often, home access from the garage is unlocked.  It should be as secure as any other entry door.  If someone can get into an attached garage and find the house door unlocked, they can enter a home while residents are asleep — home invasion.

INSIDE: Home issues

Entries:  Door construction / Door locks (both screen and entry doors)  

CPS Ali emphasized the importance of upgrading your door security. 

Entry doors:  Strike plates — Make sure your exterior doors have high security Strike Plates.  The strike plate should be 7″ to 10″ long.  [EQ: The plates that come with standard deadbolt locks may be as short as 2″!  Someone can just kick in that door.]  The plates should have 6 holes and should be installed with  3″ screws, which are long enough to go into the construction 2x4s that frame the door opening.   Deadbolts should go 1″ into the strike plate. 

Sliding doors: Some sliding doors are issued with magnet locks that can be opened from the inside with a tap of your foot.   Burglars have learned they can open the door from the outside with a powerful magnet.   Instead, look for sliding door pin locks (some can be operated with your foot).   Horizontal channel blocks are another way to keep these doors in place.

Windows:  Your windows should not be openable more than 6″.   Newer windows come with pin locks installed.   If you have older windows, you can install pin locks, which cost about $2 for each window.  You can also put blocks in the window channel beside the upper sash.

Some windows are made with shatter resistant glass, but windows with older glass can be covered with security window film, which holds shattered glass in place (and provides UV protection).  Cost is under $2.50/sq.ft.  You can also add a layer of plexiglass for security or replace your glass entirely with plexiglass.

Air conditioners and window fans should be bolted to the house frame so they can’t be pushed or kicked in.   You can add channel blocks above that as well.

Important papers, valuables, and some handguns can be stored in a waterproof, fireproof safe, bolted to the floor.   A thief won’t take the time or want to make the noise to remove it.

LANDSCAPING:

Shrubs should be 18-24″ away from entry points. 

Hedges should be 6″ shorter than windows or shorter than 3′. Leave space between plants so you can anyone there.

Trees should be trimmed from ground to 7′ (or so they don’t block the view of people approaching.

Select thorny shrubs along fence lines, under windows and in egress window wells.  (EQ: Google “Thorny bushes” “zone 4” and “Security plants”)

ELECTRONICS:  Home security systems.   

They can be relatively low cost and are easy to use.  

Check:   what comes with the set up?  Is there a recurring cost?   Is it easy to use?   Who calls 911? (you or the system)

Does it include calling the Fire Dept.?


Systems used to be hardwired to a phone line, which could be cut. 
CPS Ali prefers to see wireless systems. Wireless incorporates Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio and other wireless connections.   You can check your own property with a motion activated camera.  Some connect to a mic, so you can warn off intruders.   Many available systems can be installed by a homeowner.

Motion detector lights are always useful but especially when focused on a “hiding spot”.

Experienced thieves don’t want to break into a home they have not already cased.  They want to know what to expect.   

Someone compiled a list of what “the pros” look for in a target home: 

No home security

Poor exterior lighting

Open, unlocked garage door.

Windows and/or doors unlocked

Window air conditioning unit

Easily accessible backyard

You make it obvious you have valuables

Expensive landscaping

Empty homes

Piles of mail

Social Media announcements  “Hawaii, here we come!”

No dogs

No vehicles in the drive

Home is near a major highway  (quick getaway)

Emilie spotted a program,  Crime Prevention through Environmental Design***** and asked CPS Ali to look into it.   He responded:

It’s a course  that teaches how to manage the environment to reduce crime.   This course should be given a full presentation, but briefly: 

There are core 5 principles:  

Natural surveillance:  Using space to maximize visibility — gives intruders the feeling they are being watched

Natural access control:   Managing how people move through a space

Territoriality:  Marking boundaries so people know they are entering a controlled space.

Activity Support:  Reminding people what appropriate behavior is.   “Do not run in the store”

Maintenance:  Neglected look suggests no one is watching.

From the website, “. . . [A]n area’s physical design can influence human behavior, reduce crime, fear of crime, and improve quality of life. CPTED uses various tools to evaluate environmental conditions and utilize intervention methods to improve space and how it is used. Whether it is new construction, existing construction, green space, schools, businesses, or neighborhoods, CPTED strategies have proven to be successful.”

EQ: It appeared in my feed and looked interesting so I showed it to CPS Ali.   When I read the first page of the website and thought about it, I realized how often our behavior is shaped  by how our surroundings are designed.  This is true in parks, retail stores, malls, schools, and in our homes.   Check the website FFI.

QQ  Ring doorbell cameras are often not good at getting a face view of the person stealing a package or whatever.    What is a good  installation?

CPS Ali:  Every installation depends on the skill level of the person doing it.   Most modern cameras have a very wide view.   

Do some research.  Maybe hire an installer.  Ask your friends.   This is a one-time investment, so make sure you like what you see before you tell them you are satisfied.

QQ:  80% of the residents of SE Como are renters.   What responsibilities do landlords have for dwelling security?

CPS Ali:  From the landlord’s point of view:   You don’t know how responsible your tenants  are.   As a landlord, I would want to put in as much as I could to protect the property and the renters.   You owe it to your renters to keep them safe, but you also owe it to yourself to protect your property and investment.   

QQ:   I have a ring doorbell.   I’ve seen notices about sharing security videos with the police.   Are there any regulations we should know about?   

CPS Ali:  I’ll just speak from the CPS perspective:   we get stills, videos, car information, anything that would identify a suspected criminal.

We give it to property crimes investigators.  If it’s  meaningful, it will be shared with Inspector Torborg, precinct-wide, and elsewhere if it seems meaningful.

Inspector Torborg:   There’s a program where you can register your security camera with the city.   The idea is that if there is a crime nearby, investigators can   check the database and see who has security cameras that might have captured the incident.   There’s a link on the city website.****  [EQ: an app for homeowners:  https://connect-minneapolis-c4d53b85.netlify.app/   ]

QQ:   I get a notification when one of my daughters is traveling, usually on Facebook.   Who all can see this?

CPS Ali:  That is usually a notification and only goes to a limited number of people,  who have been given permission to receive it.   It is not a true “broadcast” and unless there’s a breach it should be OK.   There are many platforms:  Facebook, iPhone, computer and more.   [CPS left at this point]

QQ: One more question: Does the CPS also work with U of MN students?   A lot of these breakins happen to students, especially when they’re on spring break.


CPS Toller:  I also work with UMPD and with Nick Juarez. 

Quast:   Good!  We’ll be having a UMPD/MPD presentation  cooperative work later this year.

*https://apps.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/AddressPortalApp/

** https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/police/cps/  OR  https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/prevent-prepare/crime-prevention/block-clubs/

***https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/government-data/datasource/crime-dashboard/  [EQ: to find stats for your area, click on the white box in the upper right corner of the screen, “View Crime Details”.  Enter date range in their format, scroll down for your n’hood.  For a good how-to use this resource, see CPS Ali’s presentation:  https://courtwatch2pac.com/?s=dashboard   Click on the top entry.

****https://thenicp.com/

*****[EQ: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/public-safety/police-public-safety/security-camera-registration/]

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March ’24 Report, Part 2: State of the Precinct – 2-PAC Needs Your Ideas!

Posted on March 23, 2024 | Leave a comment
STATE OF THE PRECINCT
NIBRS Crime Metrics – 28 days		20242023Prev.3 yrs
Assault offenses796559
      Incl. Domestic.Ag.Asslt.586
Burglary, B&E232125
Vandalism698653
Homicide, non-neg.000
Homicide, negligent00
MV Theft6210970
Robbery1779
     Incl car-jacking231
Sex offenses9179
Stolen property offenses223
Weapon law violations454
Shots fired calls272313
Gunshot wound vics.201

EQ: Motor Vehicle theft is way down.     Any comments?

Inspector Torborg:  Since Kia and Hyundai have had their workshops and Kia installed the software that makes them harder to steal, their number are down to other [model] vehicle loss rates.  Unfortunately, there have been some new developments that make mv theft easy again.   

More people have started using clubs.   I’m sure there are videos that show thieves how to remove a club, but people want a theft that is quick and easy.   Removing a club takes time. 

Attorney Okoronkwo and Inspector Torborg commented that family members use the club in their cars, but agreed that the flaw in the club is that it takes so long to take off and then re-install.    They agree that the family members are very vulnerable during the put-on and take-off times.    Another person commented that he had one and stopped using it because of this.

Comment:  There have been some concerning incidents in a place near NE Moose, as reported on CrimeWatch.  Does anyone have anything to say about that?

Inspector Torborg:  Those incidents were at the Spring Street Tavern.   A customer actually fired some shots in the Tavern; miraculously, no one was hurt.  The owners of the place are making a huge investment in their security and working with us to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

They reached out to us immediately and are still in contact.    It’s unfortunate that there were two troublemakers there at the same time.  It could happen anywhere, though.

FUTURE 2-PAC MEETINGS — In person or hybrid with Zoom?

EQ: thoughts so far: I really want to wait until I have a co-host, and  I do understand that meeting in-person offers a lot that looking at a screen can’t match.   

Currently, we have our choice of meeting places, including

          N.E. Moose — Larry Ranallo stepped right up 

           Monroe Village — where we used to meet.

Pros and Cons: 

           Moose:  Owner is a strong, long time supporter of all first responders.  He has been generous and promoted PAC in many ways over the almost 2 decades that I’ve been attending.  He’s a past President of 2-PAC, and sincerely cares about his n’hood and more.

           Monroe Village:  The meeting room  in Monroe Village is a place where we met until covid hit.  It is ADA compliant for access and more.  It offers free parking on Central Avenue and all cross streets.  The current manager believes that some residents will want to attend. 

Inspector Torborg:  When I was briefed by the city after being named Inspector, I was told there were plans to renovate the Precinct building and perhaps break ground this spring.   It was mentioned that the Precinct could have a Community Meeting Room.  Those plans have been delayed.  They are just now seeking RFPs  [Request for Proposals]

EQ: thoughts so far:   I really want to wait to move to hybrid or in-person until I have a co-host, AND  I do understand that meeting in-person offers a lot that looking at a screen can’t match.    With just me hauling the water, not having that ZOOM recording to write reports like this one, would be just that much harder.    Yes, I could use a hand-held tape recorder but that doesn’t capture the give and take that we have on ZOOM. 

Additionally, it’s vital that 2-PAC pulls together a 6-8 member board.  

             a) it’s really too much for just one person to do, and

             b) PAC has come to  represent one person’s point of view (EQ’s) and one area of Minneapolis (SE), entirely too much.

We lost our 6+ member board when two key people moved away just before Covid hit, and two others got promoted to jobs that took much more of their time.  Nobody left because of hard work, because with a board that size,  the work isn’t that demanding.

Tale a look at our Mission  Statement:  

                To reduce crime and enhance livability in the 2nd Precinct,  2PAC is an avenue of communication between the Police Department and the community. 

                We serve residents concerned about crime and livability issues, coordinate activities that increase confidence and safety in the Second Precinct. 

                We facilitate conversation and information exchange between the Police and neighborhood stakeholders.  

The Second Precinct is represented by three City Council members.   We are fortunate that one of our City Council members, Elliott Payne, is urging people to attend and participate in PAC — How do I know?   Several people have contacted me and said that CM Payne suggested they take a look at PAC.   I believe we have at least one of those people here, tonight.  

I have reached out, and constituents have reached out to Mike Rainville and Robin Wonsley.   I’m not aware of action by either of them. Neither has responded, and I don’t see new  attenders from Wards 2 or 3.

So how do we attract people from every neighborhood in the First Precinct so that our questions to the City Attorney and  2nd Precinct staff can come from a broad perspective?   

On a brighter note:   Since I started posting these reports on Next Door (only to the 17 neighborhoods), I am regularly getting 200 clicks.   Five reports have been opened by more than 400 people, one by 709 people.  

Those hits on Next Door suggest that people want to get this information from 2-PAC, which is great.   The issue is that  2-PAC needs to hear questions and ideas from those neighbors. 

Recording of meeting: https://youtu.be/bk81Ll1Lbmk

Emilie Quast, Member

MPD Second Precinct Advisory Council

1911 Central Ave NE

Minneapolis MN 55418

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Feb. report, Part 1: The BCA: what it is and what it does for us.

Posted on February 24, 2024 | Leave a comment

Call to order at 6:40PM, 13 people attending.

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension — the BCA — is being cited in news stories every day, but no one explains why they are tapped or even what the BCA is.   This report offers the explanation.

Our speaker is  Supt. Drew Evans who leads the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.  

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the MPD  were organized in 1852 and 1867 respectively.  For over 50 years, they provided effective service to citizens, but as crime became more “mobile” and more complex, response had to evolve also.   Law enforcement efforts led to the establishment of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in 1927.   The BCA was created under the MN Attorney General’s Office, to “assist Minnesota peace officers in solving local crimes and apprehending criminals.”   BCA agents were authorized to work across city and county lines — something local officials couldn’t do. 

The BCA continued to grow and evolve.  In 1935, it added the Division of Statistics.  New agents were trained to earn full police power; having those highly trained officers made it possible to establish field offices across the state.   In 1947, the BCA added a Forensic Science Lab, then limited to chemical testing and microscopic analysis.  That first lab was staffed by one scientist and occupied a 350 sq. ft. space.  

In 1969, several agencies  including the BCA became the Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety.   That first 1-person Forensic Lab had evolved into one of the first DNA labs in the United States.   It was the first U.S. lab to identify a suspect based solely on DNA.  When a larger HQ was built in 2003, the Forensic Labs were given almost half the space in the 226,000 sq.ft. facility.

The number of trained officers has also grown (over 630 as of this report),  which enables the BCA to have a field office in each of 12 MN divisions.  

The BCA is chartered by Minnesota statute 299C  [https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/299C]  which details the Bureau’s scope, powers, and responsibilities.

The BCA has four Divisions:  Investigations,  Forensic Science, MN Justice Information, and Professional Services.  They share strategic priorities, including driving criminal justice data management, designing effective development options for Minnesota’s criminal justice professionals, delivering quality forensic science services,  targeting violent criminals, organized crime, child exploitation, and tech-crime, and creating a work culture that values,supports, develops, attracts and retains BCA employees.

INVESTIGATIONS
This unit works on Predatory Crimes, Technical Services and Financial Crimes, and Criminal Information Operations.  Regional offices in St. Paul and Bemidji cover local Violent Crime and Narcotics Investigations.   Task Forces coordinate with Federal Task Forces including Drug Enforcement Agencies, the FBI Safe Streets, Safe Trails (Northern Minnesota)  US Marshals and JTTF.  

Predatory crimes include Internet Crimes against Children, Predatory Offender Investigations, Predatory Offender Registration, and Human Trafficking.  

Technical Services and Financial Crimes  include the Financial Crimes Task Force, and Technical Services unit, (which investigates:Pen Registers, Conducts wiretaps, Installs covert cameras, conducts Electronic surveillance, Cellular tracking, Crime scene response. 

They also provide about 250 Crime Alerts each month and authorize “MN Duty Officers” — a single “point of contact” for law enforcement agencies.  

Criminal Information and Operations include the Minnesota Fusion Center, the BCA operations center the BCA Duty Officer, Reactive Criminal intelligence analysts, MN Missing Persons clearinghouse, the MN AMBER alert program, the MN Crime Alert Program, the MN Blue Alert Program

The BCA Investigations Fusion Center was moved to the BCA in 2013   It collects, analyzes and disseminates information of data on organized criminals, terrorists and all-hazardous activity in MN,   it is the state-based point of contact to coordinate information sharing between federal, state, and local agencies (https://mn.gov/fusioncenter/register/)  It houses the Secure communications room for Homeland Security.

FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES DIVISION

Forensics has three offices.  The full service office in St. Paul offers Evidence intake / processing, biology /DNA, chemistry, latent prints, firearms and toolmarks, crime scene, digital and multimedia, trace, toxicology, the Calibration lab.  

Facilities in Bemidji and St. Cloud offer only some of these services, but that will be expanding as staff expands.

Additional Forensic services include the MN Breath testing program, Expert court testimony, Stakeholder training,Technical guidance, Research, development and validation of up to date technology, Quality assurance requirements, and Service on National Forensic Science Committees and Boards   

Since 1994,  the BCA has earned accreditation in  11 disciplines including DNA testing, digital preservation and authentication, many areas of firearms & toolmark analysis, footwear and tire analysis, seized drugs analysis, toxicology

MN JUSTICE INFORMATION SERVICES
This is the state’s gateway to criminal justice information.   Over 30 computer applications and services provide data to criminal justice agencies in Minnesota.   Its goal is to deliver accurate, timely, and complete information to criminal justice partners and citizens for better decisions-making.

Data shared includes  Criminal history, Predatory Offenders, Law enforcement incidents, Driver & vehicle data, Fingerprints, Wanted/missing persons, Orders for protection, Prison, jail and detention orders, Domestic abuse no contact orders, Arrest and booking photos, Stolen property, charging data (complaints, citations, incidents), Other states’ criminal history,driver & vehicle, Probation & supervision.

Other services include criminal history background checks, fingerprinting, information security,  Education and marketing (product mgmt), statewide crime statistics, FBI-required audits.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Oversees the BCA’s budget and fiscal responsibility and manages other services for all divisions such as grant and contracts managements, HR assistance, purchasing,  accounts, special expenses, mailroom operations.  

BCA Training
the BCA is required to provide statewide training (M.S. 626.848).   It offers classroom and online training in police practices and investigative techniques, management and leadership,  forensic science processes, and BCA systems to 9000+ students /year.

Additionally, the BCA includes a Legal Team to provide analysis on litigation, legislation, data practices & policies.   They have a Data Practices team, offer Law Enforcement Accreditation, a Communications team, and provide help with Strategic Planning and  Criminal Justice Information &  BCA advisory group.

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Feb. Report, Part 2: State of the Precinct. Incl Youtube link

Posted on February 24, 2024 | Leave a comment

STATE OF THE PRECINCT

From the MPD Crime Dashboard, 2nd Precinct 28 day report.

Crime metric              2024         2023         3-yr. average

Assault                          63             59             65

    Incl. Domestic           10              8               9

Burglary B&E                26            27             28
Damage to prop.           77            64             55 

Homicide, non-neg         1               0               –
Homicide, negligent        0               0               –
Larceny theft               156           132           182

M.V. Theft                      76             91            78

Robbery                         16             44            12

   Incl.car-jack’               2               1              4

Sex offenses                   15              2              7

Stolen property off.           2               1             1 

Weapon Law Viol.             4               0             1

Shots fired calls               20             12           12

Gunshot wound vics.         1               0             1

QQ  Does damage to property include graffiti?

Inspector Torborg: Graffiti has exploded in the 2nd Precinct, especially down the Central corridor.  It’s frustrating because people tend to regard that as a minor crime, but they’re doing a lot of expensive damage to the Northeast.  It’s investigated by the Property Crimes Unit, which today includes one Lieutenant and one Investigator.   That’s it.

They’ve identified some suspects and are working with the County Attorney’s office because these are juveniles.    That makes it harder to determine what is the appropriate punishment.   In one case along the RR tracks by the 5th Street bridge, a juvenile from Prior Lake was spraying graffiti and urinating in public. There was a witness who captured pictures of the suspect.  It doesn’t rise to the level of crime that we book him in Juvenile Detention, but we do have to send a message that this IS a serious crime.

Unfortunately, with all the other things that are going on in Minneapolis, graffiti is pretty far down on the list of what we can respond to.    That lets people think it isn’t a serious crime and they can get away with it.   We’re back to a matter of resources available to get the work done.  [EQ: “Resources” means officers in squad cars, I think]

COMMENT:   Como has an ongoing program that wraps utility boxes.   These are getting tagged regularly.   The MFD provides the removal chemicals which work pretty well.    He always takes a picture of the graffiti and sends it to 311 — apparently some office is keeping those pictures as evidence.  

Inspector Torborg:  It really helps if you can get pictures of the people painting the graffiti.  

Inspector Torborg:  We caught a few juveniles painting the Lumber Co. on Central and transported them home.   Hopefully they’ll be getting some form of a ticket like damage to property and disorderly conduct.

Quast:  I’ve had a complaint that people want COURTWATCH back, and told them I’d ask if there is a timeline for bringing it back.

Atty Okoronkow:  Our office does not do lists of Targeted Prosecution any more.  The Dept. of Human Rights took this as an issue that they wanted stopped.   The First Precinct had a robust list and does not have a list at all any more. 

COMMENT: Met an officer at the car wash  and asked how things were going at the 2nd Precinct.    It turned out this was that officer’s last day and he was moving to the Highway Patrol.   He commented his MPD equipment didn’t work very well; Ford no longer makes the vehicle he was using.

Inspector Torborg:   We have about 60 Ford Explorer Police Packages.  That is add-on equipment, specific for Ford Explorers, but Ford is not delivering the vehicles or offering a timeframe when they can make that delivery.  It takes a long time to get them ready for the street.  Radios and other equipment have to be installed and the back has to be modified.  In the meantime, Dodge Durangoes will be taking their place.

COMMENT:   He also mentioned that recruiting is a challenge.

Inspector Torborg:  As of today, we have 505 officers.   144 of them are eligible for retirement.  We’ve been without a contract for over a year, and the officers’ pay is lagging behind what they can get elsewhere.  

Attenders chatted about contacting our CCMs, Payne, Wonsley and Rainville.

YOUTUBE Video:  https://youtu.be/2wCFuOi-AD0

Emilie Quast, member

MPD Second Precinct Advisory Council (2-PAC)

1911 Central Ave NE

Minneapolis MN 55418

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Oct. Report: Criminal Justice Behavioral Health – A New Response People in Crisis – Introducing April Smith MSW, LGSW!

Posted on January 28, 2024 | Leave a comment

We opened at 6:34 pm with 7 attenders. Today is Indigenous People’s Day, and many public employees are off duty. Special thanks to Inspector Torborg and to our speaker, April Smith, for being here.

In January 2020, 2-PAC first learned about a new MPD-Hennepin County joint program, called the Co-Responder Teams.  A licensed social worker went out on call with an MPD officer (who also had special mental-health response training)  to respond to “person in crisis” events, reported by the first contact squad team.  The program was very successful by several measures:  People who were in crisis received trained, onsite help from qualified professionals, more quickly than any other response could provide.  Social workers could transport and expedite intake for a client at an appropriate hospital or other service.  Clients and their families also received follow up help from the social worker.  A bonus benefit: the initial responding officers were quickly back in their squads and able to return to the calls they were trained to handle.Several months later, Covid sequestering changed the response plan. The Co-Responders were called back to a central location and dispatched from there.  About the same time, MPD began losing officers for various reasons, and didn’t find replacements.

It’s 2023, and The MPD once again has certified, qualified help for people in crisis;  the social workers are now “embedded” in the Precinct.   Welcome the Second Precinct’s new social worker,  April Smith!

April Smith:   The Co-Responders spent much of their time traveling to clients.   In contrast, an embedded mental health social worker mostly stays in their office and works with referrals from officers and others. When an officer comes in contact with a person who has a mental health concern, a substance use concern, or a basic need issue (such as lack of shelter), the officer gives Ms. Smith a referral and she contacts the client, hopefully within 24 hours or fewer.  

Ms Smith first asks “What’s going on?”  If the person wants to work with her, they proceed from there.  No one is forced to accept the social worker’s services. For example, she is now working with a client who is only focused on short term problem solving.  This person has social problems that are troubling to her.  Ms. Smith is able to help her deal with that because it is very troubling to this client.  If there are domestic issues or issues involving juveniles, Ms Smith can put the client in touch with people who specialize in those issues.

Background to the new program:   In 2018, Hennepin County partnered with police departments in the county.   We now have at least 32 embedded social workers across Hennepin County.  MPD was slow to get started.   The Third Precinct has had a social worker for over a year, but Ms. Smith only started at the Second 3 months ago. There is now a worker in the 1st Precinct, and workers have just been hired for the 4th and 5th precincts. “Our bases are loaded, now.”

A goal of the program is to reduce the number of 911 calls officers have to respond to.  Officers don’t have the training or resources to respond to many of the calls. Already, most of the calls Ms Smith receives are referrals to frequent 911 users.These calls drain the MPD resources, and prevent officers from quickly responding to the calls they should be going to. 

Responding to 911 calls from frequent users or answering non-criminal complaints about neighbors are not issues an officer can do much to resolve.  Those calls can be handled by social workers.

There are a few “red tape” guidelines.  Because she is partnered with Hennepin County Social Services, she can see if a caller is already working with a social service agency. If someone is receiving help from one county agency, Ms. Smith is not allowed to duplicate that service.  For example, if someone is receiving help with a chemical dependency, she is not able to help with that, but she may make a phone call to that client’s case manager, letting them know that the client has been having trouble with the issue and is calling 911 for help.  

There is also a time span issue. Ms. Smith is a short-term case manager.  She can work with a person for up to three weeks unless they move into a “Work Group” so the county can be billed to support longer term involvement. This happens often when the issue is finding housing.  Once they are in a Work Group, she can work with them for up to six months.  It depends on what the client is working with her to resolve.

Recently, the Embedded Social Workers Program has begun a pilot project with Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.  Social workers can now receive referrals from the HCAO when there is an uptick in a focus crime, such as auto theft by juveniles.  Juveniles who have been identified as being part of a theft ring, or riding as a passenger in a stolen car, or who have been identified tampering with vehicles, get referred to the team. These juveniles are often too young to be charged, so they have not been entered into the system. This program, for them, is similar to a diversion process.  Embedded Social Workers are the first point of contact to reach out to these families to see if they need extra support or resources for their youth.

Recently, Ms. Smith and supervisors in the program met with investigators from special units which work on open investigations, like homicides, the guns unit, or violent crime investigations.  We’ll also be getting referrals from the Fire Dept.   911 dispatch is already part of the program and has its own social workers who complete follow up for people who call that service frequently.

The goal in partnering with the investigators and emergency responders is to efficiently provide needed support to victims and the families of victims, and to free officers to focus on their primary duties.

Post presentation discussion.   2-PAC members will look for a media reporter that will keep the story going after a suspect has  been apprehended.   There are so many social services, which are tested and proven, which we know can be very effective, which our taxes are paying for.   They never get mentioned in crime reports in the media.   Residents and other taxpayers should have access, on a regular basis, to “the rest of the story.”   Contact your favorite crime reporter and urge them to start telling the whole story. 

STATE OF THE PRECINCT

Crime statistics from the MPD Dashboard.

2nd Precinct Crime Statistics,  9/11-10/8

Crime metric                2023     2024     3-year average       

Assault                             75        89         76

    Incl. Ag. Domestic          4          9          7

Burglary, B&E                   20        31        43

Damage to property          52        72        68

Homicide, non-neg.            0          0          0

Homicide, negligent            0          0          0

Larceny, theft                   191      235      239

M.V. theft                           58        70         69

Robbery                              6         30        13

     Incl. car-jacking              2          1           3

Sex offenses                       4           9         10

Stolen property off.              22           3

Weapons law viol.               5           9           8        

Shots fired calls                 15          29        30

Gunshot  wound vics           0           1           1  

This is the best crime incident report we’ve had since I’ve been seeing them.   Car-jacking is the only metric that rose over the last 28 days, and that only rose by one incident.  

QQ: Last month I offered the opinion that the reduction in weapons law violations might be linked to new protocols for traffic stops, for broken tail lights, and similar offenses.

Inspector Torburg: There are arguments on both sides of that question.   Some people believed they were profiled, while other people looked at the number of guns the officers took off the streets, and thought that was good.

QQ: What about expired license plates?

Inspector:  It’s frustrating.  I pay a fortune to renew my license tabs.  When you look around the streets, you see a LOT of expired tabs; some  of them have been expired for years.   It’s frustrating when you play by the rules and see other people ignoring those rules.

QQ:  I agree it’s irritating to see people ignore the rules about tabs, but what about moving violations?   I’m a bicyclist and see so many people going way over the speed limit.  The speed limit on the parkway is 20.  I’m going 20 on my bike and people pass me like I’m standing still.   East Hennepin, a block from my house, is sometimes like a raceway.  Are you permitted to stop people for moving violations?

Inspector: We are permitted to make those stops.   I think what you’re seeing is the effect of a LACK of police officers out there patrolling.  I recently went to an event in North Minneapolis, and, red light or green light, you have to watch at every intersection.   People totally disregard the signals.

Not too long ago, the MPD Traffic Unit had 30 officers.   All they did was  traffic moving violations.    Normally if there was an issue, like speeding, they would focus on that area and could calm things down pretty quickly.  We used to also have leeway at the precinct level.  If someone called the precinct about an issue in a local area, like people running a stop sign at a certain intersection, a sergeant would assign a squad to that area. Unfortunately we no longer have enough officers to take a squad away from answering 911 calls so they can monitor  stop sign compliance.

QQ  One of my neighbors and I have talked about  watching an intersection we share and just taking photos of the car tags going through without stopping.   Would that be enough to issue a citation or at least a warning?

Inspector Torburg:  That complaint came up.  It was decided that since  the MPD couldn’t  prove who was driving the car, they couldn’t write a citation.  The last legislature session had a bill which would issue a citation to the OWNER of the car, no matter who was driving it.  It didn’t pass before the end of the legislative season.   We hope they’ll work on it again when they meet again.  [EQ: Contact your state Rep. and Senator about this ]

COMMENT:  Talking to Reps Jordan and Noor.  Technology has improved so much since the first case was thrown out.   Now you can get a picture of the car tag, and also a very clear picture of the driver.  Places like Phoenix have done this.

Inspector:   I think there’s about 30 cities that use that system.  You’re right the technology has improved so much; also, most cities have a human to match the photo of the registered driver with the photo of the person driving, which cuts down on false charges.   This is another way technology can help us overcome the staffing shortage.

QQ:  Would you remind me who is behind the edict to not stop vehicles with equipment violations or expired tabs?

EQ looked it up:

Timeline for changes in defective vehicles stops.

January ’20, Officers stop vehicles to hand out repair vouches, not citations.   Story: https://tinyurl.com/328dz87j

August ’21, Officers no longer stop for expired tabs, items hanging from the RV mirror, or no working license plate light.  also the City Attorney will not prosecute for “for driving after suspension when the suspension was for failure to pay fines or fees and there was no accident or other egregious driving behavior that would impact public safety.”   Story: https://tinyurl.com/2u88dxes

The ’20 and ’21 changes occurred under Chief Arradondo’s leadership.   In 2023, Chief O’Hara was interviewed by KARE-11 about continuing enforcement changes that started back then.  See https://tinyurl.com/32zkfr6r

It is October.  Next month we start preparing for the 39th December 24th 10-hour buffet for First Responders who are on duty on that Family Day.   We need help with pickups, planning, looking for new food donors (commercial kitchens, ONLY), setting out table decorations, hanging stuff on the walls, and more.   All those needs are on GO at the beginning of December.   It’s hard work, and fun, and satisfying, and frazzling, and everything a good tradition brings with it.  

YouTube video from the recording of this presentation: https://youtu.be/v8pKJGmZVUs

 or https://youtu.be/ounKn8qBzmQ

Emilie Quast, Member

MPD Second Precinct Advisory Council (2-PAC)

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MPD 2-PAC Jan. ’24 report, Part 1: Dinkytown and SE Mpls crime updates.

Posted on January 28, 2024 | Leave a comment

We have very low attendance tonight because EQ sent the wrong link to attenders. All I can do is apologize.

The meeting opened at 6:44 PM 7 attenders. We followed up on our December discussion of the several crimes that occurred in Dinkytown and elsewhere in SE Minneapolis.* (asterisks refer you to newspaper story links on part 2 of this report)

Two people were killed and a third person wounded in Royal Cigar, a tobacco shop, at 14th and 4th Street SE at 2 AM. The first story in the Star Tribune indicated that the shop had a 11PM close mandated by its licensing. It was later discovered the shop IS licensed to remain open until 2 AM; a correction appeared in the S’Trib.

Two weeks later, 3 underaged women were given drinks by others [not staff] at Blarney’s. The drinks had been adulterated. The chemicals used to adulterate the drinks do not cause people to stagger or slur their speech, so Blarney’s staff didn’t have any alert signs. [See Inspector Torborg’s comment below.] The women left with the “others” When the women appeared at a hospital emergency room later that night, only one of them was able to communicate with officers.

EQ contacted the Manager of Mpls. Licenses and Consumer Services, Amy Lingo, hoping she’d have time to join us with an outline of her office’s response to these events, since both shops are licensed by the city.

She offered to speak at a future meeting, AND she sent me the following statement for tonight’s meeting, “Business Licensing , the 2nd Police Precinct, and Police Licensing are working together and with the establishments, both in advance and as issues arise. Measures such as formal security reviews and alcohol service compliance checks are in process. Complaints that do not fall under immediate emergency (which should utilize 911) are best sent via 311. This allows us to track and trace the issues.

“As far as licensing impact, . . . We are following our protocol and procedures for such enforcement actions. We use a progressive enforcement plan as well as a communication plan. When we find rules that are being ignored, we reeducate and work to regain alignment and proper business behavior.”

What Ms. Lingo stated reinforces the statements Inspector Torborg and CPS Ali made in December. Since they are on the front lines of this business, I’m asking if they have any updates?

Inspector Torborg: I’m in contact with the departments in Licensing, but can’t make any comments that might jeopardize the case. Checks are in progress and I haven’t heard any updates on the [health] of the girls. Lab work is in process and adulteration cases are tricky. This is a rare case because the victims actually made it to the hospital while they still had drugs in their systems. Most often victims don’t realize what has happened until the drugs have been metabolized, which leaves nothing for the lab to find.

Torborg added that bystanders [including bartenders trained to watch for people for “issues”] are not likely to realize the victims have been drugged. They don’t act that way. Instead the drugs are more of a memory blocker. The Inspector recalled from his work with Sex Crimes investigations, that people would protest they were familiar with the effects of alcohol on their systems. This was different. “I lost time” is what he heard.

The next incident: Shots fired at an occupied house on 15th Ave. SE in SE Como. A day later, the owner spotted officers searching the alley and talking to neighbors. Apparently several shells were recovered. No further info available.

Mr Santana’s Deli on University Ave SE also had a shooting during this 28 day period.

Inspector Torborg: The shooter is claiming self-defense. She did flee the scene that night but then turned herself in. It will be up to the County Attorney to decide what charges to apply.

Mr Santana’s has a conditional permit from many years ago that allows them to be open 24 hours a day. The Police would rather see everything close up at 1 AM which makes patrol work easier to do well.

Inspector Torborg: We’ve had 14 shootings in the 2nd Precinct this year [i.e.2023], 6 of them were homicides. That is astronomically high compared with the rest of the city. The 4th Precinct [his previous assignment] has a shooting almost every day, but relatively few of them are homicides.

Quast: UMPD coverage of the 2nd Precinct traditionally changed over the years. How do UMPD and MPD handle coverage today?

Inspector Torborg: Right now UMPD Squads back up MPD Squads on Priority 1 Calls. Their cameras also help. The day after the shooting at Royal Cigar, the UMPD camera trailer was right in front of the shop. The trailer cameras are monitored back at the UMPD station.

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Jan. ’24 Report, part 2: State of the Precinct, Reporting crime on 911 and 311, MPD Staffing; Repeat offenders; 988 Lifeline, a new program.

Posted on January 28, 2024 | Leave a comment

STATE OF THE PRECINCT Whether pushed by the mild temperatures or Holiday Break, crime is up. People have more free time and one less reason to stay home.

Data from the MPD Crime Dashboard:

Crime Metric    2024   2023   3-yr. ave

Assault      78    64    64

Burglary B&E   17    20    24

Damage to prop. 102    43    44 

Homicide, non-neg 2    0

Homicide, negligent 0    0

Larceny theft   155    79   159

M.V. Theft     79    79    64 

Robbery     8     4

  Incl. Car-jacking 2    0     3

Sex offenses    7    4     17

Stolen property off. 0    1     4

Weapon Law Viol. 4     3    5

*Domestic Ag.Aslt. 17   7    9

Shots fired calls  18   10    19

Gunshot Vics    3   0    1

QQ: How should we report an incident to 911 when we call? Asker had a person show up on her Ring video who appeared to be having a mental health crisis. She asked the 911 operator to send someone with that training but is wondering if residents should offer that info because we don’t have training in that.

Inspector Torborg: When you contact a 911 dispatcher, give them as much information as you can. If the person is doing something criminal, a Police Officer will go out with the Social Worker. There are many times when an officer is called to “crime in progress” and the behavior described suggests that a mental crisis specialist is needed on the call. In those cases, the officers make sure the situation is safe for the behavioral specialist. The only time when a Behavioral Crisis team is dispatched without an officer is when there is no crime occurring.

QQ South Minneapolis has teams of violence preventers. Do we have this in the 2nd Pct.?

Torborg: There are different groups that get called to these incidents. Last summer in Dinkytown, we had Somali Mothers who contract with the Office of Violence Prevention.

QQ: So many people are saying, “Don’t bother calling 911”. What do you think about that?

Torborg: Do keep calling 911. The calls are tallied and that is one of the resources we DO use to allocate resources. If people don’t call 911, response times are going to be even slower in the future.

After we make an arrest, it’s up to the County Attorney to decide if they will be charged. When we bring someone in, it is VERY often true that this person has previous arrests — sometimes they have many previous arrests. People hear about repeat offenders and assume repeat offenders are out there because the cops are not doing their jobs. Actually, it’s other offices in the criminal justice system that have failed and allowed this person to go back to the public and victimize people.

CPS Ali: There is one more light. Since the inception of the 988 Lifeline (previously the Suicide Prevention Lifeline) there are more resources for people in mental health crisis. Also, some of the officers have received special training for when this response is needed. People with this training can filter calls to determine what kind of response is needed. This is a new territory for all of us, including the Police Department.

We’ve all seen this frustration that “officers don’t come” One reason for this is that we don’t have enough officers.

QQ: How is recruiting going?

Inspector Torborg: Not well. They are starting a new academy this spring. They had 60 applicants. After the applications were examined, that is now down to 11 people.

Quast: And some of those 11 people will take a job in a suburb or Ramsey County.

Torborg: That goes both ways. We’ve had officers come from those places too. They do have to go through a brief retraining session. Another issue is that we have a lot of officers who are approaching 55 and can retire without penalty. Minneapolis will have that to handle in the near future.

Also, we have not had a contract since January 1, 2023. There doesn’t seem to be any urgency in signing this contract. [EQ: Officers are not allowed to go on strike.]

*Original Star Tribune stories are here:

https://www.startribune.com/brawl-inside-dinkytown-tobacco-shop-led-to-weekend-shooting-that-killed-2-injured-clerk/600324407/ Dec. 6 story, and

https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-police-several-underaged-women-say-they-were-drugged-at-dinkytown-bar/600329132/ Dec. 18 story, and.

https://www.startribune.com/27-year-old-woman-charged-with-murder-in-weekend-shooting-at-marcy-holmes-deli-convenience-store/600332133/

This event actually occurred in January ’24, and is included in the crime statistics for 1/8, a 28 day compilation. It is part of this month’s report, above.

** The Inspector previously led the MPD Sex Crimes unit. See his 2019 2-PAC presentation at https://courtwatch2pac.com/?s=sex+crimes

YouTube copy of meeting recording: https://youtu.be/kR7bCHrxqQg

Emilie Quast, Member, MPD Second Precinct Advisory Council (2-PAC), 1911 Central Ave NE Minneapolis MN 55418 

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Porch Pirates –  Prevention is the best defense

Posted on November 29, 2023 | Leave a comment

Theft of package mail is a serious big dollar hit and more than a personal inconvenience to victims, despite the cute descriptor, “PorchPirates”.   The statistics reported below are from a Forbes summary:

Property theft of delivered packages is a national problem.  Per a Forbes analysis*: [note:  *= source cited below]

  • Minnesota ranks the 9th highest incident state in the USA
  • Nearly 8 in 10 people had a package stolen from them in 2022.
  • In 2022, porch pirates stole 260 Million Packages, value estimated at $19.5 Billion
  • Who is doing this:
    • 94% are under 45 years old.
    • 67% self identify as middle class.
    • 54% are white.

How thefts are classified:

All thefts are classified partly by dollar value.  All are important, no matter the dollar amount, and should be reported with a 911/311 call or email report.  

In Minnesota, police classify package theft by value of the stolen item, just like other theft from a garage or home. **

  • Felony theft is an item worth more than $1000
  • Gross misdemeanor involves items valued between $500 and $1000.
  • Petty theft includes items valued at less than $500.

Preventing  Package Theft –  It’s Better than Catching a Thief.  

One list of suggestions is from the Better Business Bureau. ***

  • Don’t leave unattended packages. 
    • If you’re expecting something and you’ll be gone, ask a neighbor to watch.
  • Ship to store and drive in to get your package. 
    • Many retailers offer this service.  If something —  like shoes —  needs to fit, try them
      • on at the store. You can  return them on the spot if they don’t fit.
    • This option comes with no delivery charge!
  • Use a security camera. 
    • Make sure your camera is positioned so it actually records a face
  • Require a signature.
  • Consider a package receiving service.

RETAILER PICK UP OPTIONS

The stores I surveyed at the Quarry and in the Rosedale complex still offer curbside pickup, which is still very important for people with compromised immunity systems.   Everyone else can use them too.   

Other pick up options: 

Amazon Hub Locker — one is located in Cub in the exit foyer, on your right: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GVZLTK8D4EBS4QJA

Look at Amazon delivery options: they’ll ask for your zip code. This Cub (in zip 55413) is your option in the 2nd precinct. There are other lockers nearby but outside the 2nd Pct. or Minneapolis.

Home Depot has lockers  see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtkqUuruUZMTarget:  https://www.target.com/c/order-pickup/-/N-ng0a0

Mail Services with USPS & UPS

United States Postal Service

  • You can rent a P.O. box for less than $15/month.  ($88 for 6 months)
  • Packages addressed to your P.O. Box will be held for your pick up.   
  • If you decide to cancel before the end of the rental period, you get a refund for the unused months.

United Parcel Service  1730 New Brighton Blvd #104, Minneapolis MN 55413.  [and others nearby]

  • Package acceptance from all carriers
  • Package and mail receipt notifications
  • Mail holding and forwarding
  • Call-In mail check
  • 24-hour access (at participating locations)
  • Key Savings Card™

If you requested shipping to your home, and your package is missing, and your delivery service says it was delivered, check with your neighbors.   It may have gone to the wrong address.   Some delivery services have a picture of the house where the package was left.   Maybe your delivery is next door.

Still missing?  CALL 311

What will happen may not be a squad car.  With 2nd Precinct staffing remaining around 60%, Officers must focus on top priority calls:

  • helping people in danger,
  • stopping crime in process,
  • stopping dangerous drivers.   

Those are and always have been the top MPD priorities as they should be.    Know that low staffing makes it even more important for you to continue to report those thefts.   Residents are part  of the crime prevention team if, when they see something, they say something by dialing 311 to report what they saw. 

                       ‘Calling it in’ is our job on the security team.

When you report a theft to 311, your report is plotted on an incident map.  Officers and others can see what crimes are happening, when, and where.

If the Second Precinct has a “rash” of porch thefts reported in a small area, the officers can focus on those livability crime areas AFTER they’ve  responded to the top priority calls listed above.     

Inspector Torborg confirmed that calling 311 is the way to get your complaint entered on a crime map.   Once it’s entered there, he and other staff will be aware of where there is activity.    If you DO have a good video or other identifying info, the 311 operator will route that to 911 or another place where it can be used.   

Again, because of staffing, don’t be discouraged if you have to leave a message at 311. 

Comment:  Our neighborhood has a great deal of porch pirate theft, especially around the holidays.  He advised neighbors to use the 311 email function so the record gets in. Is it correct that there is a way to make a direct report to the MPD on that website?

Inspector:  There is.****   It’s a good place to enter all the details you have about an incident. 
STATE OF THE PRECINCTFrom the MPD Dashboard:  Crime  in the 2nd Precinct 10-9-23 through 11/12/23

Crime Metric 20232022  3-yr. ave
Assault*759179
Burglary B&E241834
Damage to prop.838366
Homicide, non-neg10
Homicide, negligent00
Larceny theft178181210
M.V. Theft1118671
Robbery182624
      Includes Car-jacking1106
Sex offenses556
Stolen property off.424
Weapon Law Viol.10129
*Domestic ag. Aslt incl597
Shots fired calls202933
Gunshot victims101

QQ:  Do you have any recent statistics on catalytic converter theft?

Inspector: There’s a high incidence area in Marcy Holmes around 35W.   We focused more squads in that area and it has made a difference, but not enough, yet.   It’s an easy theft:  everyone has a battery operated Saws-All.  The converters are sold for their cadmium and platinum, which sell for a lot of money.

QQ: Spotted a Hyundai security pop-up near Lake Street.   How does that go?

Inspector: They set up 4 or 5 lanes and want to have a car out in 20 minutes with new software installed and a decal on your car indicating that the software was there. That pop-up was in the 5th Precinct.  5th Pct. Inspector Nelson reported that over  500 cars got the upgrade.

Kia had two security upgrade events in Shakopee in November.   Contact your dealership with your VIN# to see when the next ones will be and if your car is on their “FIX” list.

Inspector Torborg commented that when he goes to monthly meetings on crime in the city, the 2nd Precinct incident maps look “pretty clean” compared with the other Precincts.   One thing we do have is too many auto thefts, primarily Kias and Hyundais.   When we can get that problem solved we’ll be in better shape.

We still have “other” persistent crimes, random robbery of person or a carjacking.    We are combating  those numbers which wouldn’t be bad in another Precinct.  This is in the Northeast.   We’re different, and want to keep it that way.

We’ve had crime analysts in to see if there’s a pattern.  They can’t find any pattern that will help us.

*https:///www.forbes.com/home-improvement/home-security/worst-states-for-porch-pirates/

** https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/609.52#stat.609.52.3

*** https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/18927-avoid-package-theft

****https://www.minneapolismn.gov/report-an-issue/theft-lost-property-or-damaged-property/

Emilie closed with a reminder that the 2-PAC 39th Annual 10-Hour Buffet for all on-duty first responders is coming soon.   On December 24, we’ll open at noon and finish at 10PM that evening.  Volunteer help is needed through the month to pull everything together.  A general meeting will be called after Thanksgiving.

Youtube video link: https://youtu.be/zADUQTW3pUw

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