Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey Reveals Public Safety Recommendations

MINNEAPOLIS, MN —Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey held a news conference on Monday to announce new public safety recommendations made by the Community Safety Work Group.

Frey convened the work group last December to develop a series of recommendations that streamlined internal practices related to: 911 response, violence intervention and prevention, policy reform, safety beyond policing, and innovative alternative public safety strategies that strengthen community trust, according to the mayor.

The 22-member volunteer work group includes community members and experts who are "engaged in the full spectrum of community safety initiatives." The group is co-chaired by Nekima Levy Armstrong, attorney and civil rights activist, and Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, lead minister for Plymouth Congregational Church.

Among the work group's recommendations:

• Improve oversight and coordination within the Minnesota Police Department, including creating a new leadership position focused on the coordination of community safety-related functions within the city enterprise.
• Strengthen MPD's recruitment and hiring process by implementing a first-in-class police recruitment and training program focused on building a pipeline of future candidates who live in Minneapolis.
• Significantly improve the quality of MPD training with a series of action steps.
• Strengthen MPD's disciplinary and accountability systems.
• Expand violence prevention programs and the city's behavioral crisis response strategy.

"Minneapolis needs to be safe for its residents — that's one thing we can all agree on," Frey said. "I convened this group of community leaders to think critically about the current and future safety needs of our city and to provide transformational recommendations for a path forward.

"They did just that. From significantly improving the quality of our police trainings to expanding our nationally-recognized violence prevention programming, we have the opportunity now to achieve true progress and create lasting change."

According to the city, Frey will be considering the implementation of these recommendations in the coming weeks as he prepares to finalize and present his recommended 2023 city budget.

Levy Armstrong urged Frey to give each of the recommendations serious consideration.

"Minneapolis residents have made it clear that they want to see a culture shift happen within the Minneapolis Police Department, along with an increased focus on transparency and accountability," Levy Armstrong said. "Residents also want to see a significant reduction in gun violence and a stronger focus on violence intervention and prevention. Mayor Jacob Frey has the opportunity to implement these recommendations to improve MPD and make our city more livable for all."

The Community Safety Work Group's full report is available on the City of Minneapolis website.