The meeting was called to order at 6:37 with 6 in person and 6 on ZOOM
2024 10-Hour Buffet for First Responders.
We’re Back! Our in-person and carry out numbers are back to pre pandemic numbers. We served over 130 people from all 5 precincts, 10 fire department stations, UofM PD, MPRB Police, Henn. Cty. EMS, the BCR, and the 988 Teams. We also delivered 166 meals to 911 operators and Metro Transit West Station staff who can’t drive in.
In addition, the Moose delivered 110 meals to HC Jail staff, who are also “shut-ins”.
I’m also happy to write that the volunteers who host this buffet can handle whatever happens. We’re all growing and we’re all learning how to handle the next crisis.
Livability Issues: Homeless people in Dinkytown. It’s a forever problem. One of them is known by name to most of the officers in 2nd Precinct, the U of M officers, and many merchants in Dinkytown. 2-PAC has been hearing about him for 15+ years.
He or his friends have amped up confrontations lately. However:
Two days ago, I found a statement by W.3 CM Rainville in the City of Minneapolis Daily Digest Bulletin. CM Rainville represents part of the 2nd Precinct. He wrote:
“I have authored a legislative directive to conduct a landscape analysis of state and municipal actions to expand access, incentivize and/or introduce court-ordered mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
“This will give the city council more information on what the city can do to help solve the substance abuse and mental health crisis, which is resulting in the many homeless encampments in Minneapolis. It will also assess the degree to which quality treatment is currently available, particularly for individuals experiencing homelessness.”
People have suggested that some repeat offenders do not want treatment. We can’t brainwash them, and we don’t currently have the facilities to lock them up, even for their own safety; those places have been closed. So, we have to find something, somewhere else. I’m hoping that some of the recently created social service agencies can come up with a plan.
Know that Precinct Advisory Council goals are to I.D. community issues and help find solutions.
STATE OF THE PRECINCT:
MPD 2nd Precinct 28-day report
| NIBRS* Crime Metrics-28 days | 2025 | 2024 | 3 yr.avg. |
| Assault offenses | 64 | 80 | 76 |
| Incl. Domestic.Ag.Asslt. | 8 | 17 | 12 |
| Burglary, B&E | 22 | 14 | 17 |
| Vandalism | 63 | 97 | 57 |
| Homicide, non-neg. | 0 | 2 | |
| Homicide, negligent | 0 | 0 | |
| Larceny theft | 131 | 163 | 157 |
| MV Theft | 48 | 83 | 75 |
| Robbery | 8 | 9 | 14 |
| Incl. car-jacking | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Sex Offenses | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Stolen Prop. Offenses | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Weapons law violations | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Shots fired calls | 23 | 21 | 19 |
| Gun wound victims | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Inspector Torborg: Most of our crime is trending down compared to last year.
At one point last summer, we were regularly having over 20 auto thefts a week. Recently, that’s been down to 9 to 11, which is encouraging.
Robberies: Two weeks ago we had 0 robberies and we talked about it. Then we had two. One was a Facebook robbery: in Facebook, the victim met someone who wanted to buy his computer. When they met in front of an apt. building, the suspect grabbed the computer and ran into the building. That’s a preventable robbery, but we still have to own it.
Livability Issues: The biggest problem in the 2nd Pct. is constant livability issues in SE Mpls. created by just a few people who use a lot of time from many agencies. The U of M PD is working on this issue with us. One of the frequent offenders is now, finally, geo-restricted from U of M property, but he isn’t geo-restricted from Dinkytown itself. He’s been trespassed from many businesses in Dinkytown too.
When he’s picked up, he’s taken to Hennepin County Jail, probably gets a meal, and is released about 4 or 5 hours later, without any kind of treatment.
The long-term goal is for him and the others to get in front of a judge who will commit them to a facility instead of releasing them back to the streets. Some are getting more aggressive, and people are getting more angry with them — not a good recipe for the future.
Problem Properties: The other growing issue we have is tenants in a few apartment buildings are generating a lot of 911 calls. We don’t have the tools we used to have. Back then, we’d contact Licensing and Inspections, they’d write citations for too many 911 calls, and conduct on premise. Those tools have gone away. All we have left is Fire Inspections.
Here’s an example: I grew up about three blocks away from a nice NE three story apartment building. In the last few months, today’s tenants have triggered dozens of 911 calls.
On New Year’s Eve, we were called for a stabbing. We had to arrest three people: one was fighting with us and kicked a couple officers, another one was just being belligerent. I was hoping we could get somebody in to write some violations, but the only response we got was a Fire Inspector.
Nothing is done about the litter, the holes punched in almost every door. The fire suppression system was in place, the smoke alarms were good. There weren’t any fire code violations, but the place is in bad shape.
QQ Where is this building?
Torborg: 759 Washington Street NE. It’s on the northeast corner of Washington and Broadway, a three-story apartment building.
There are several apartment buildings that are problems, especially the newer ones. 2301 California is a huge apartment complex.They opened last summer, and we started getting an inordinate number of 911 calls. So, we’ll do what we can and hopefully we’ll get a few more officers here in this coming year. The more officers we have, the more effective we’ll be.
QQ: I don’t understand how this is happening even if it’s “only” fire inspections.
Torborg: Early in my career, I was placed on an unpopular shift in North Minneapolis. Part of my duties were to go around with a Housing Inspector and visit various properties. If the properties were in disrepair, if there was bad conduct on the premise and stuff, the Housing Inspector would issue citations. That doesn’t happen anymore.
The Housing Inspector would point out to the landlords that they’re expected to rent to people who are decent tenants. He would point out if they were renting to people who had a record of livability violations. Those housing inspections are gone, now. So now as long as the owners of the properties maintain the fire codes, we don’t have leverage for them to keep their places clean, to keep decent tenants in their apartment buildings.
Also, when they do try to evict problem tenants but the tenants refuse to leave, the owner must file an unlawful detainer. The whole process takes months.
QQ: Landlords used to get inspections based on the number of violations. Is that system gone too?
Answer: It’s still on for all rental. [EQ: Google “Minneapolis rental license tiering”]
QQ: How is Police recruitment looking?
Torborg: We just welcomed 32 cadets and CSOs. That’s the most people in the pipeline in five or six years. As of this morning, we had 530 officers. Last summer, we had 499 at one point.
Quast: One thing: I’d like you to clarify. What is a CSO and what is a cadet?
Torborg: A CSO [Community Service Officer] is somebody on the pathway to become a police officer. All you need is a high school diploma, and we’ll hire you. Then you work part time as a CSO doing things like driving squad cars to the shop, getting supplies for the stations. They do non law enforcement (housekeeping) work when they’re on the clock for us. At the same time, they’re taking law enforcement classes. The MPD pays for classes that lead to an Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement. Once they get their Associates Degree, they can enter our Police Academy.
MPD Cadet program was started to get a more diverse group of people applying for the job. They hire anybody with a two year degree in law enforcement OR a four year degree in any field. The candidates get all the law enforcement classes they need before they go into the Police Academy. About 9 months later, they can be sworn in.
To simplify it, Cadets already have their classroom education; they only need to go through “rookie school” to get them up to speed. CSOs haven’t had classroom training, so the MPD is helping them along the way — two years or four years.
QQ: How long does the Police Academy last? What courses are involved in that?
Torborg: Whether it’s a CSO or somebody else, it’s a 4 month academy they need to graduate from rookie school. Since a typical Cadet doesn’t have any law enforcement classroom training, it’s longer. You have to complete those classes, pass the POST test [EQ: Police Officer Standards & Training], and then go through Police Academy. That’s about a nine month process or a little longer. You do get paid at least, so it’s actually a good deal. We’ve hired a lot of cops that way.
After the Academy, you ride with a Field Training Officer for five months. You’re evaluated every day at the end of the shift in 28 different categories. Then, when you’re done with that five months, you have 10 days where you ride with a Field Training Officer, but he is supposed to just be a ride-along. He doesn’t do anything other than observe you and step in if somebody’s safety is in danger. After you complete the 5 months of field training and the 10 day evaluation, you’re finally able to work in a squad by yourself.
FTO is an important part of our training. A lot of police work can’t be taught in a classroom. A good FTO fine-tunes you into being a good cop.They are offering wisdom and steering you in the right direction.
Quast: Thank you. Over the next several months, I’ll be asking more people to talk to us about better management of livability issues in Minneapolis. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact me directly. And with that, I wish you all a good evening.
Emilie Quast, Member
MPD 2-PAC
2nd Precinct Advisory Council 