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911/311 updates: the New Response Protocols, and, State of the Precinct

Posted on July 24, 2024 | Leave a comment

The meeting was called to order at 6:33 PM, 18 attenders: 14 in person and 4 by Zoom.

911/311 updates: Report on the new Minneapolis 911/311 response protocols. Joining us were Joni Hodne, Minneapolis Emergency Communications Director, and Deanna Douglas, Operations/Community Engagement Manager. Leticia Cardenas, Assistant Director, presented:

Leticia Cardenas

OVERVIEW: The Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center (MECC) handles 911 Answer and Dispatch for the City of Minneapolis.

MECC is the busiest emergency dispatch center in MN. The Second Precinct, however, is also served by four other emergency centers: the U of MN PD, MPRB-PD, Metro Transit Police, the State Patrol, and Hennepin County EMS.

They’re BUSY! In 2023, the MECC answered 630,779 calls; that’s 1750 calls a day.

Where are they: 911/311 were located in City Hall, but have moved to a new call center in March. The new center includes “new” amenities, but the typical call station is one of three configurations:

Call Taking Monitor,
Channel 7 Monitor (Channel 7 is a Minneapolis Radio Channel that is used as a resource channel for Minneapolis Police and Park Police.)
Dispatch Monitor.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

Answer 911 calls
Answer other 10-digit calls (EQ: For example, to request Police, Fire, Medical or BCR response to a non-emergency situation, call 612-348-2345)
Dispatch Responders to calls for service
Provide support services to partner agencies
MPD Shot Spotter and the MPD Bait Vehicle Program – 911 operators monitor, enter calls and dispatches based on Shotspotter and the MPD Bait Vehicle Program.

TRAINING: People who are selected to work in the 911 office must go through a rigorous training program, outlined, here:

CALL TAKER

Must take up to 560 hours of COMBINED classroom training and one-on-one coaching before answering a 911 call without direct supervision
Must know basic medical terminology
Must have basic computer skills
Must be able to provide customer service
Must have CJIS Certification
- Criminal Justice Information Service is a division of the FBI. It compiles information from local and international communities and analyzes the statistics to provide a common database of information to agencies around the U.S.
Must know Minneapolis geography

POLICE DISPATCH

Must take an additional 440 hours of training and coaching before becoming a Police Dispatcher

FIRE DISPATCH

Must take 128 combined hours of training and coaching before becoming a Fire Dispatcher.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CALL 911:

The first three responses will be:

“This is 911. What is the address of the emergency?”

“Is the address a business, a house, apartment, or a duplex?”

“Tell me exactly what happened.”

Other things you will be asked:

Are any weapons involved?
Describe the vehicles/persons involved.
Where are the vehicles/persons involved now?
Does anyone need medical attention?
How will responders get into the building?

Stay calm. Try not to panic. Speak slowly and clearly.

Answer all questions and follow directions.

Don’t hang up until the 911 Call Taker says it’s OK.

If you need translation help:

The 911 Call Center uses Language Line Interpretation Service. This service currently provides translation in 21 languages in Minneapolis [EQ: FFI google Languageline.com]

If you can’t phone, text:

While the 911 Call Center prefers you phone them, they also use Text-to-911 because sometimes, a person can’t call, for example, if they are hiding.

HOW TO TEXT 911

Enter 911 in the “to” field
Include your location and type of emergency.
Hit SEND.
Answer questions and follow instructions.
Use simple words and NO ABBREVIATIONS!

Things to know:

Location will not be as accurate on a Text as it can be with a call.
Be ready to give an address OR describe your location.
Do not text and drive.
It is illegal to text 911 with a false report.

Incident Dispatching and Community Engagement

Internal Partners include North Memorial Hospital, Hennepin County EMS, Minneapolis Fire/EMS/Rescue, Minneapolis Park Police, Minneapolis Police Dept., Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, Canopy Roots.

In addition to the above emergency responders, 911 can connect you with Public Works, Forestry, Emergency Management, and with Xcel or Center Point if the event is related to a Fire Dept. incident event. NB: Emergency Management is a City of Minneapolis department; it is not part of 911. [EQ: SEE https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/departments/emergency-management/ ]

It’s important to understand that when someone makes a 911 call, the call may be handled by more than one responder. The call taker may be able to refer the caller directly to the right office. If that’s not appropriate, the call for service may go to the MPD or the MFD or the EMS, and any of those offices might notify some OR all of the others.

KNOW WHEN TO CALL 911 OR 311

Call 911 for the following:

Call if a Police Officer is needed at the scene: (assaults, gunshots heard/seen, kidnapping, domestic disputes)
Call if you or someone else needs an Ambulance or a Fire Dept. response.
Call if you or someone else is having a mental health concern.
Call to report an animal bite.
Call to report a crime in progress.
Call to report suspicious criminal activity that you witness.

Call 311 to make the following police reports:

Theft reports (bikes, packages, catalytic converters, shoplifting if no one is in custody) BUT NOT AUTO THEFT
Theft FROM motor vehicle or theft OF motor vehicle parts.
Identity Theft.
Trailer theft.
Theft of services (taxi, innkeeper, etc) .
Fraud.
Credit card fraud.
Deprivation of parental rights.
Restraining order violation.
Damage to property.
Damage to motor vehicle unless it was attempted auto theft.
Obscene or harassing phone calls or text messages.
Loss (or mysterious disappearance) of property.
Property damage (as hit and run accidents).

THE MPD CALL CENTER

When the public calls 911, operators may enter a call for service to the MPD Call Center because of the nature of the complaint. This center is staffed by MPD Officers. An Officer will phone the caller and make an official Police Report. Everything is done over the phone and no Officer is dispatched to the scene. 911 operators can not write an official Police Report.

An Officer must file a report based on the information they receive from the caller, even though the MPD will not send an Officer to take information. Examples are robbery or burglary if there were no weapons, no injury, no significant loss, and no evidence. [EQ: IMPORTANT! Even though no Officer will be dispatched, CALL ANYWAY: It’s very important they get these reports to log in. That’s how they can see “hot spots” for certain kinds of crime, as those hot spots are building.)

The MPD Call Center, using phone interviews, saves Officer travel time. That means that more Officers are available to respond quickly to dangerous or critical events — priority one incidents. This is especially important now because of MPD low staffing levels.

The Call Center operates 7AM to 3 PM, M-F. If a call comes in outside these hours, the caller is advised to phone 612.3483.2345 during the next business day.

The Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR)

The BCR was established in Minneapolis in 2021. The teams are unarmed, culturally responsive and trauma-informed mental health care professionals defined by Minnesota Statute 245.462, subd. 17 7 18. They provide intervention, counseling, and connections to support services available in Minneapolis.

The BCR is now available 24/7 and has several offices cutting down travel and response time. It is managed by Canopy Roots, a local, black-owned, mental health services organization. The service is provided free to anyone in Minneapolis.

Responders are dressed in casual blue clothes, with Behavioral Crisis Response or BCR on the back. The vans display the logos of the City of Minneapolis and Canopy Roots.

With the development of the BCR, Minneapolis now has four emergency response units: The BCR, MFD, EMT, and MPD. Each is trained to handle different situations and may request help from a different unit. The BCR specializes in mental health emergencies, but, like the EMTs and the MFD, if they encounter serious threats, they will call for back up from the MPD for everyone’s safety.

Questions:

In response to a question, Ms Hodne replied that BCR staff always carry a police radio and are in constant contact with 911 dispatch.

In answer to another question, she reported that the BCR responded to almost 10,000 calls in 2023. Of those almost 1700 were in conjunction with the MPD — either the MPD requested the BCR or the BCR requested the MPD. Additionally, the calls for service are rising. The 2023 number was about 1500 more than in 2022. The numbers will continue to grow.

EQ: When you presented at 2-PAC a few years ago, the structure of 911 was being reshaped. At that time you talked about having social workers right in your office. Did that happen?

Hodne: Currently, we don’t have embedded social workers in the office, but we have other options. We can transfer a call to 988 and 211.** Also, we work with BCR and with COPE. Additionally, Police Depts now have embedded social workers. We were talking about having embedded social workers too, but with Covid and staffing shortages, that got set aside. We’re starting to talk about that again and should have more information the NEXT time we meet with you. [EQ considers that a promise]

Hodne: It’s important to remember that if we get a call from someone who is trying to get comfort in a mental health situation, and there are calls still coming in, that could be someone having a heart attack or a life for death situation. We need to connect the first person with someone whose skills are helping their kind of need.

Hodne went on later to explain that 911 operators are quick to send a second response if the first choice is not available. For example, if a person is having a crisis and acting in a way that might cause them to injure themselves, the 911 Operator might call for a BCR response, but if BCR doesn’t have a person who can quickly get there, 911 will send in a Police Officer so the person doesn’t harm themselves.

**[EQ: see 988lifeline.org and 211.org – 988 is the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 211 is the free United Way helpline for services including “physical and mental health resources, housing, utility, food, employment assistance, crisis interventions, and more.”]

STATE OF THE PRECINCT

Inspector Torborg:

We are still severely understaffed. We’re at about 550 officers right now. We’re supposed to have 731, per the city charter.

The Inspector discussed the July 4 melee Dinkytown: people throwing fireworks at other people and more. Fortunately no one was seriously injured. The Inspector pointed to making a lot of arrests, with the reminder that this takes officers off the street to write out reports. He commented that the Second Precinct had a lot of help that night from UMPD and others.

July 4 was followed by a stabbing on Sunday night and another on Wednesday. [EQ Two stories in the S’Trib. of the 30 arrested, 27 are not from Minneapolis. https://www.startribune.com/july-4th-disturbances-result-in-30-dinkytown-arrests/600378710/ More of the story four days later: https://www.startribune.com/charges-filed-over-fourth-of-july-fireworks-melee-in-minneapolis/600379389/ ]

Last month, after the Inspector had already left, someone asked for an update on the robbery at a BP Station on University. Inspector Torborg reported that he had contacted the owners and suggested they work on a plan that will improve the safety of their business. He commented that a business, working with the Precinct and city licensing can create a workable plan. An attender asked if that might bring in a security person. [yes!]

Second Precinct 28 day crime report from the MPD Crime Dashboard:

NIBRS Crime Metrics-28 days	2024	2023	Prev.3 yrs
Assault offenses	70	108	103
Incl. Domestic.Ag.Asslt.	6	10	10
Burglary, B&E	10	23	35
Vandalism	92	57	59
Homicide, non-neg.	0	0	0
Homicide, negligent	0	0
Larceny theft	156	174	206
MV Theft	77	51	71
Robbery	15	16	17
Incl. car-jacking	1	1	2
Sex Offenses	2	6	6
Stolen Prop. Offenses	2	2	3
Weapons law violations	9	7	9
Shots fired calls	19	22	37
Gun wound victims	0	2	8

Emilie Quast, Member, MPD Second Precinct Advisory Council

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/vQkq7ZMdLAI

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Tagged 9-11, crime, law-enforcement, mpd, police

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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Tagged burglary, crime, home-security, safety, security

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	2024	2023	Prev.3 yrs
Assault offenses	79	65	59
Incl. Domestic.Ag.Asslt.	5	8	6
Burglary, B&E	23	21	25
Vandalism	69	86	53
Homicide, non-neg.	0	0	0
Homicide, negligent	0	0
MV Theft	62	109	70
Robbery	17	7	9
Incl car-jacking	2	3	1
Sex offenses	9	17	9
Stolen property offenses	2	2	3
Weapon law violations	4	5	4
Shots fired calls	27	23	13
Gunshot wound vics.	2	0	1

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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Tagged community, crime, graffiti, news, politics

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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Tagged crisis-response, hennepin-county-mn, minneapolis, social-work-response

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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911/311 updates: the New Response Protocols, and, State of the Precinct

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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