The meeting opened at 6:35 with 9 attenders.
Crime Prevention Specialist Rashid Ali presented a roadmap to help people navigate the Minneapolis Police Department Crime Dashboard.
The Dashboard was developed to have a central system for everyone. Before the Dashboard, each precinct had a system, but an Officer in one precinct couldn’t see what was being reported in the next precinct. Chief Arradondo initiated the plan; check the five minute video of Chief Arradondo explaining the dashboard concept here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4CSBGpWOfM
Getting into the Dashboard:
From your Google or other search system, type “city of minneapolis crime dashboard” and ENTER.
Scroll to CRIME DASHBOARD. Click VIEW FULL SCREEN (upper rt. corner) if you aren’t seeing that already. If a sign in screen pops up, just hit the cancel button; you don’t need a password to enter this site.
There are two ways to view the Dashboard: “View Crime Summary” and “View Crime Details”.
“Crime Summary” is the basic view; it’s the first screen.
Look at the crimes listed in the left column of the screen — all crimes are very broad or general, like “assault” or “robbery”.
In “View Crime Details”, the categories of crimes are broken down.
“Assault” is divided into “Aggravated assault”, “Intimidation”, and “Simple Assault” and so on. Click on the blue box for the definition.
The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics defines the terms for all U.S. law enforcement crime data reporting in the “National Incident-Based Reporting System” (NIBRS). Also check Box 3 at the top of the screen, “Additional Crime Metrics”.
On the Details screen, you can refine your search dates, area (citywide, precinct, ward, neighborhood), categories or breakdown categories.
On the right side of the screen, find a day of incidence chart. What days, in your area, at what time, are you most likely to have a crime occur. CPS Ali pointed out that this level of detail gives you “context”
CPS Ali pointed out an important feature of the Dashboard: BEFORE you go into full screen — look at the upper left hand corner.
Click on “Submit an Anonymous Tip” and you’ll go to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. You’ll see an 800 number, an app, and a place to enter a written tip. Per the screen:Crime Stoppers of Minnesota provides a safe place for citizens to provide anonymous information about crime and fugitives. We’ll deliver your information to the proper authorities to investigate without revealing your identity. If the information you provide leads to a felony arrest, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
The second line is the full written guide to using the Dashboard.
The third line is Full Dataset, which apparently isn’t fully usable yet.
Bonus info: the MPD Dashboard is NOT the only dashboard the city uses. From Google, enter “Minneapolis dashboard” and see https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/government-data/datasource/
Click on Search All, for a list of 57 dashboards for Minneapolis, like air quality, 311 calls and more.
QQ: What doesn’t show up on the dashboard? Are there lower level crimes that don’t get listed? What about “calls for service”?
AA: Calls for Service are recorded on the City of Minneapolis dashboard.
One thing missing from the Crime Dashboard is access to public information about an incident. If someone calls about seeing squads at an address, the CPS can go to public info and give the information that can be released to the public. This is not the actual report but a sentence or two about that incident.
QQ: What kind of usage does the Dashboard get? Who’s been using it?
AA: The public does not seem to be comfortable using the Dashboard yet.
Lt. Nelson added that people need to play around with it to get comfortable. She assures us that you can’t break it.
QQ: A SE biker noticed the new city lightposts had the access covers removed and wires sticking out. Stolen copper? Does that sort of crime appear on the Dashboard?
AA: It depends on who reports it and how it’s reported. If you send that to the Crime Stoppers site, that report comes to us and you’ll get an update on the charge.
Rashid emphasized that some things are missing from the dashboard: The ability to select a very small area, such as your house or business, and to select the categories of crime you want notifications. Also, there is no place to sign up for alerts; that should be available.
To offer comments, questions or suggestions, about the Crime Dashboard, contact CPS Ali at abdirashid.ali@minneapolismn.gov
STATE OF THE PRECINCT (CITY-WIDE)
After a string of high speed chases leading to violent crashes, in October 2019, the MPD created a policy limiting police chases to situations where officers believed a suspect either had committed OR was about to commit “a serious and violent felony or gross misdemeanor.” They could also pursue if someone’s driving was “so flagrantly reckless that the driver would pose an imminent and life-threatening danger to the public if not apprehended.” Officers could not initiate a pursuit or were required to end a pursuit if it “pose[d] an unreasonable risk to the officers, the public or passengers of the vehicle being pursued who may be unwilling participants.”
That policy had unintended consequences, like more speeding by more people because “They won’t stop you anyway.”
On May 27, 2023, a Star Tribune headline read “MPD relaxes policy for pursuits: Cops OK’d to chase suspect in more gun-related crimes” Ten days later, the headline in the B section read: “Six in Stolen Kia hurt after chase, crash” The chase was initiated by a Hennepin County sheriff’s deputy because the vehicle matched the description of a Kia that was linked to an armed robbery and two attempted carjackings. MPD joined the pursuit which hit 60MPH on Wirth Parkway. The vehicle, driven by a 12-year old, first hit an SUV at Olsen Hwy and Penn Ave, and then crashed into a MTC bus shelter.
Emilie invited our reps from the MPD, HCAO and MAO to react to this story about 12 year olds driving stolen cars.
Atty. Okoronkwo could only comment for himself, and was not speaking for the city. The City Attorney’s Office does not prosecute motor vehicle theft or “flee-ers” or even juvenile prosecution. His personal opinion is that the chases put everyone at risk, drivers, the officers, and bystanders.
Lt Nelson concurred. Life is much more important than catching someone driving a stolen car.
Additionally, if someone steals a car, they’re going to get rid of it as soon as possible. “A” sells it to “B” who sells it to “C”. If “C”gets caught driving that car, the most she can be charged with is a misdemeanor joy-ride. The risks from a speed chase is not worth a misdemeanor charge.
Lt Nelson noted that kids record chases to post them on media for “likes” and “follows”.
EQ: re the stolen Kia. “Detectives with the Hennepin County Violent Offender TaskForce (VOTF) were working on a joint operation with the Minneapolis Police Dept. when they spotted the Kia, … “Due to the violent nature of the earlier incidents,[ VOTF and MPD officers] initiated a pursuit consistent with department policy.” — Star Tribune, 6/6/23, page 1B.
Lt Nelson: We explain MPD policy to officers: You can chase if it falls under “SHARK”: Sexual assault, Homicide, Aggravated assault, Robbery, Kidnapping. That directive is a “can”, not a “shall”. Ultimately, the responsibility falls on the officer.
Youtube meeting video: https://youtu.be/6BykXHrzmOQ
2nd Precinct Advisory Council 