Mission and goals

The mission and goal of the Investigative Bureau is to process crime scenes and evidence and to investigate criminal activity to provide support for effective prosecutions, offenders are held accountable, and victims get justice. It is comprised of units that perform investigations, evidence collection, and response to violent crime in the City of Minneapolis. The Investigative Bureau performs a variety of functions, including crime scene response, collecting, and reviewing evidence, investigating, and presenting criminal cases to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for prosecution, and providing expert court testimony. To achieve the mission, the Investigative Bureau has set the following goals:

• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders and other service providers.
• Investigate crimes that occur in Minneapolis.
• Process crime scenes and evidence involved in criminal activity in the city.
• Hold those responsible for violent criminal activity accountable and provide an avenue for justice for the victims.
• Provide outreach services to our most vulnerable community members.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure children, victims of intimate partner violence, victims of sexual assault and human trafficking, juvenile services, and communities disproportionately affected by violence receive the care and support they deserve.

Services provided

The Investigations Bureau is comprised of three divisions: Special Crimes Investigations Division, Violent Crimes Investigations Division, and the Forensics Division.

• Activities performed by the Investigative Bureau provide crime scene processing and investigations for crime victims in Minneapolis.
• Investigations provide a service to hold those responsible for committing crimes accountable and an avenue for justice for our victims.
• Crime victims, their friends, family, and community benefit from effective investigations, having a direct impact on public safety by locating and apprehending those who are committing violent crime in our community and holding offenders accountable.

The Special Crimes Investigations Division

These division units investigate crimes such as domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, missing juveniles, and juvenile crimes. Additionally, the division participates in many multi-jurisdictional partnerships and initiatives that strive to improve services and responses to victims. The Sex Crimes and Domestic Assault Units have embedded victim advocates who work in partnership with investigators and embedded County and City Attorneys.

Investigators from the Domestic Assault Unit work out of Hennepin County’s Domestic Abuse Service Center and partner with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to provide victim-centered and trauma-informed services. The MPD’s U-Visa program operates out of the Special Crimes Investigations Division, accepting U-Visa applications from individuals who may qualify as crime victims under federal guidelines. The U-Visa program fosters positive relationships between the MPD and immigrant communities, and it offers assistance to vulnerable immigrant victims who come forward, report criminal activities, and are helpful in the detection, investigation, prosecution, conviction, and/or sentencing of a violent offender.

Juvenile Investigations also operates out of this division. The Juvenile Diversion Program partners with the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office to identify and divert qualifying juvenile offenders out of the criminal justice system and into restorative justice alternatives.

The Violent Crimes Investigations Division

The Violent Crimes Investigations Division consists of units that are largely responsible for the investigation and response to violent crime as well as proactive investigative units that focus on reducing violent crime. The division is responsible for investigating and presenting for prosecution the major crimes of Homicide, Robbery and Assault. The Gun Investigation Unit and Violent Crimes Investigation Team participation in the city’s Office of Violence Prevention as part of the Group Violence Intervention program. The Group Violence Intervention program is designed to reduce street-groups involved violence and homicide. A partnership of law enforcement, Health Department, community members, and social service providers directly engages a small and active number of people involved in violent street groups and delivers a credible moral message against violence, prior notice about the consequences of further violence, and a genuine offer of help for those who want it. Additionally, units collaborate with our federal partners, such as the FBI and ATF, in task force operations to proactively address and investigate violent crime and weapons investigations.

The Forensics Division

The Forensics Division operates our Crime Lab and provides 24-hour response to crime scenes for evidence documentation, recovery, and analysis. The Field Operations Unit responds to crime scenes to examine, document, process, and collect evidence at the scene and in the lab. The Computer Forensics Unit retrieves and analyzes data on digital devices, assists with search warrants and subpoenas regarding internet and phone service providers, and conducts proactive investigations related to child victimization. The unit participates in the Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Minnesota Cyber Crimes Task Force. The Firearms and Toolmarks Unit examines firearm and toolmark evidence, as well as maintaining the Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS). IBIS utilizes gun-specific information to link crime scenes and firearms evidence. The Forensic Garage examines and processes vehicles and other large items related to a crime. Firearm examiners work closely with the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). The use of the technology/evidence assists in deploying resources more effectively in our mission to impact gun violence. The Video Forensics Unit responds to scenes to help identify and recover video. Unit members examine video for evidentiary content and work with investigators, providing images, timelines, and audio analysis. Crime Lab personnel also maintain the AFIS computer system, which provides access to fingerprint databases.

Race equity impacts

The impact the Investigation Bureau’s work has on racial equity is based on the service we provide to our victims and the community we serve. By providing crime victims with a voice, they have a role in the judicial process. Their experiences bring a powerful voice to assist in holding those who have harmed them or others accountable for their actions. By impacting crime, we can influence public safety. Safer neighborhoods lead to stronger communities where people are eager and interested in building their lives. Additional residents move into safer communities, bringing with them opportunities for economic development to serve the larger community base. Safer communities not only influence peoples’ decisions on where to reside, but also where to invest their dollars. Working with community members to develop or modify policies allows for a stronger voice, commitment and desire have a role with the Police Department. It encourages stakeholders to engage in opportunities where they have influence over development and improvement. Unity Community Mediation Team members assist in reviewing, modifying, and creating new policies while working alongside the police department.

Crime statistics compiled by the MPD show that violent crime adversely impacts geographic areas that are predominantly populated by persons of color. Additionally, crime victimization statistics show that persons of color are disproportionately represented as victims of violent crime. Bureau staff directly interact with and serve members of the underserved communities that are victims of violent crimes. The U-Visa program helps to serve the immigrant and refugee communities and develop trust with vulnerable victims of violent crime. Our participation in the Group Violence Intervention program helps to direct resources and focus on group violence, which disproportionally affects young men of color within our community.

The deployment of our resources, with input from the communities we serve, will help build the MPD’s capacity to provide professional service to all groups, including BIPOC, low-income and marginalized communities.

Mission and goals

The MPD Special Operations and Intelligence Division performs a variety of critical tasks to investigate crimes, protect the safety of our community, manage available resources in the most effective way to reduce crime, and respond to all significant incidents and acts of terrorism that may occur in Minneapolis.

Strategic Information Center: The Strategic Information Center (SIC) provides real- and near-time time criminal intelligence information to patrol and investigations. SIC enhances officer safety, protects the lives and property of the citizens of Minneapolis, and aids in the arrest and prosecution of offenders by using criminal intelligence and information gathering with a mixture of both sworn and non-sworn staff. The SIC’s role in providing criminal intelligence and information is administered through the department’s values of Trust, Accountability, and Professional Service, respecting the privacy and civil rights of citizens. All staff is trained on local state and federal laws governing the collection of criminal intelligence and there are policies and checks in place to assure compliance. Staff operates in a professional and ethical manner as it relates to obtaining and disseminating intelligence and information. SIC also serves as a conduit for all incoming and outgoing information on the threat of terrorism with the State of MN and Federal Government and the FBI.

Citizens of Minneapolis, visitors, business owners, and officers all benefit from the criminal intelligence and information developed and disseminated by the SIC. Intelligence and information developed allows the department to focus investigations on those individuals and/or areas that have the most adverse impact on public safety in Minneapolis. Intelligence provided has solved numerous criminal cases including most recently playing a key role in identifying a serial rapist who had been targeting Minneapolis for the past several years.

K9 Unit: The primary mission of the K9 Unit is public safety, serving both as a support and primary action unit, responding directly to 911 calls as a primary response squad when necessary or as K9 support officer handler/canine teams locating search subjects (people, items, evidence, explosives, and narcotics). The K9 Unit provides dignitary protection as well as mass gathering security and threat mitigation. Patrol and Investigative officers’ benefit from the existence and function of the K9 Unit regularly locates suspects and evidence, allowing for successful arrests and investigations.

Bomb Squad: The Bomb Squad provides maximum safety for both the public and the bomb technician, providing a professional response to bomb disposal and hazardous explosive materials. The Bomb Squad examines suspicious packages and suspected vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and removes or makes safe suspected explosive devices, incendiary devices, explosives, explosive chemicals, pyrotechnics, and ammunition. The Bomb Squad mitigates chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials incidents.

The Bomb Squad is one of four accredited Bomb Squad response units dispatched by the Minnesota State Duty Officer to out-state Minnesota or contacted directly by law enforcement agencies for emergency safety procedures outside the City of Minneapolis.

SWAT: SWAT provides enhanced tactical response capabilities during high-risk incidents. The MPD values the sanctity of life and dignity of all people and is committed to a highly trained and highly skilled police SWAT team that substantially reduces the risk of injury or loss of life to suspects, police officers, and citizens during high-risk calls, crisis response, and critical incidents. A professionally managed and coordinated “team” response to high-risk incidents significantly increases the successful resolution and desirable outcomes.

Special Events/Dignitary Protection/Police Reserves: The Special Events/ Dignitary Protection/ and Police Reserves Unit has three different functions, each with the primary coordinated effort to provide enhanced public safety, security, and increased police visibility during special events and visits from governmental dignitaries requiring protection details. Some examples include city festivals, block parties and community events, Presidential visits, and extra Police Reserve patrol on the Nicollet Mall.

Services provided

The SIC provides intelligence and information gathering and monitors all threats to the City of Minneapolis and performs analysis of intelligence information and analysis on complex criminal investigations. Intelligence analysis and information are disseminated to investigators throughout the department and are critical for community safety and special details. SIC provides real-time monitoring of the city’s Public Safety Camera System for continual public safety and participates in the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for the regional and national safety of all. Due to the reduction of staff, it is even more imperative that we leverage technology and analytical skills enabling the MPD to recognize crime patterns and trends to address public safety concerns.

The K9 Unit’s primary function is locating people and items by regularly conducting tracking for suspects who have fled from officers, as well as dangerous felons who are failing to comply with orders to surrender. Statistics demonstrate that suspects usually surrender and submit to arrest due to the presence of a K9. K9 teams provide security and threat mitigation for mass gatherings and provide explosive device sweeps for all major sporting events in Minneapolis, concerts, rallies, and other large public events, as well as smaller community events and presentations. K9 teams regularly assist the U.S. Secret Service for dignitary protection and threat mitigation, and have provided security for Heads of State, Cabinet members, sitting and former Presidents and First Ladies, and other high-profile visitors to Minneapolis.

Bomb technicians are trained and proficient in making explosive and hazardous chemicals safe, removing suspected improvised explosive devices, incendiary devices, explosives, explosive chemicals, pyrotechnics, and ammunition, and conducting bomb searches of critical infrastructure and special events/venues throughout the city for the safety of residents and dignitaries. The unit conducts investigations of bombing crime scenes, collects evidence, and provides courtroom testimony. Participation on dignitary protection details is critical, as is community awareness and safety programs for the community, public and private agencies, and for community engagement at special events.

The SWAT Team provides tactical support and response for the MPD and other law enforcement agencies when tactical response capabilities to incidents exceeding the capability or capacity of first responders and investigative units. SWAT staffs a Warrant Team that executes high-risk warrants upon request from investigation units and is available to respond city-wide to high-risk incidents or hostile events. SWAT also to conducts control operations utilizing less-lethal weapons and munitions. Crisis Negotiators routinely respond to people threatening to commit suicide. The Technical Team staffs and operates the Mobile Command Vehicle and is often requested to provide a command-and-control platform at various special events and safety incidents throughout the city.

The MPD SWAT Team may be utilized in the following situations:

• Hostage Situations
• Barricaded Situations
• Active Shooter/Hostile Events
• Apprehension
• High Risk Warrant Service
• Crisis Negotiations/ individuals in crisis
• Crowd/Protest Control
• Personal Protection
• Counterterrorism/Terrorism Response
• Special Assignments

The Special Events/Dignitary Protection/Police Reserve unit provides the following services:

Special Events: Processes permits to restrict public access to streets, rights of ways, and open spaces for an event, such as for Block or other Special Events; meetings with other stakeholders and working directly working with permit applicants; conducting site review and developing tentative public safety requirements & plans related to approved permits; working collaboratively with lead off-duty police officers if required by the permit; working with MPD command staff to coordinate public safety services and staffing when necessary.

Dignitary Protection: Coordinate with other law enforcement partners, such as the US Secret Service, US Capital Police, and US State Department officials regarding dignitary protection requests and security details. Coordinates POTUS, VPOTUS and other dignitary motorcades in the city of Minneapolis.

Police Reserves: Provides Police oversight and supervision to the Minneapolis Police Reserve Officer citizen volunteer corps, working closely with the Police Reserve leadership team. Plans and helps coordinate training for Reserve Officers. Police Reserve Officers provide the following services: Traffic & crowd management at special events, directed patrol, area security operations at significant crime scenes, and community engagement initiatives. In 2019, Police Reserve Officers gave 6,000 volunteer hours.

Race equity impacts

Through departmental Procedural Justice Training, K9, Bomb and SWAT personnel are trained on the importance of giving voice, making neutral decisions, respectful treatment, and gaining trust. The goal is increased legitimacy, increased compliance, and increased public safety.

When gathering, collecting, and disseminating intelligence and information, possible unintended consequences towards all communities must be considered. Information gathered and disseminated is in response to reported crimes and involves officer safety information, arrest bulletins, or intelligence on illegal activities.

SIC gathers criminal intelligence and information to prevent crimes from occurring and is careful to preface all information and intelligence issued, noting whether the intelligence constitutes arrest authority or not, and assures that the information includes a high level of specificity on persons and locations to assure fair, accurate and equitable enforcement for the appropriate response level and resources needed to help solve community issues.

The citywide K9 unit has the opportunity for officers to engage and interact with diverse communities through community events. It is important that K9 Officers continue to patrol and have direct personal knowledge of each of the Precincts and the residents who live there, as well as the Officers and Investigators who have a vested interest in each area of the city. The K9 officers’ community interaction and education help to tear down barriers and build trust within the community we serve. Having open dialog and introducing the dogs to the public have been effective at breaking down barriers, creating equity and building lasting relationships that include the critical factor of trust.

MPD Special Events works closely with diverse communities and organizations to help them get through the permitting process and requirements facilitating safe community-building events. Special Events and Police Reserve personnel engage with diverse groups and individuals during their work, which is often highly visible and rewarding for both the officers and the community. The Police Reserve is a diverse group of volunteers from the city’s diverse communities and backgrounds. The Reserve Program is a diverse pool of potential future sworn MPD officers and a strong recruitment tool.

Mission and goals

The Administration of the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and the Professional Standards Bureau oversees the administration, Internal and professional aspects of the Department with the goal of providing public safety without bias, resources are used effectively, that officers are healthy and well trained, are accountable, and provide the highest quality of professional service. Administration includes the Chief of Police, Assistant Chief, and MPD Financial Operations. The Professional Standards Bureau consists of the Training Division, Internal Affairs Division, Administrative Services Division (Health & Wellness, Research and Development and Early Intervention System), and the Support Services Division (Business Technology Unit, Records Unit, Property and Evidence Unit, Fleet Management, and Law Enforcement Auditors. These units cover the following aspects of the MPD:

• Training of both new employees and current employees
• Development of MPD employees for future roles
• Maintains professional accreditation and licensure of the employees of the MPD
• Investigation of complaints made against MPD employees
• Ensures the integrity, accountability, and professional services within the MPD
• Determines how to best leverage the various programs and resources to address needs and emerging public safety issues
• Ensures the efficient use of financial resources
• Maintains the technology of the MPD
• Maintains the fleet used by MPD
• Supervises the Body-worn Camera auditors, and newly created Police Auditor positions
• Assures Quality Assurance of programs and items used by MPD
• Maintains and builds new health and wellness programming
• Maintains the current Early Intervention Systems (EIS) while working to secure a new comprehensive EIS system

Minneapolis benefits from the efforts of these bureaus in four ways. First, we provide first-rate training for our employees to maintain high professional standards. Proactive programs such as Health and Wellness training for our employees have helped them gain a better understanding of how Nutrition, Fitness, Sleep, Mindfulness, and Stress are all factors in their overall health. A better understanding of these factors gives our employees greater knowledge of the effects these factors can have on their bodies. Second, we provide our officers with modern technology for a more efficient work product and more engaging interactions with the community. Technology such as our Record Management System (RMS), PIMS, or our use of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs). Third, we ensure the efficient and effective use of both internal and external resources. Fourth, we enhance our accountability to the citizens of Minneapolis by ensuring thorough investigations into citizen complaints or addressing the quality assurance of our employees’ effective use of the BWCs. Responsiveness to complaints and ensuring our employees’ professionalism give accountability to the citizens we serve.

Services provided

The Administration and Professional Standards Bureau are in alignment with Chief Huffman’s vision of providing Trust, Accountability, and Professional service to the Citizens of Minneapolis. Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and Integrating Management of Police and Crisis Training (IMPACTS) help officers bridge the gap between reducing the use of force and learning de-escalation techniques to lessen harm to citizens while focusing on the Chief’s vision of the Sanctity of Life. Training all MPD sworn officers in the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) training consisted of an 8-hour training including interactive classroom training regarding wellness, duty to intervene, and the overall health and well-being of law enforcement officers. The next evolution of training will involve training all MPD sworn staff in the Police Executive Research Forum-developed, “Integrating Communication, Assessment and Tactics” training, providing officers with the skills necessary to use distance, time and cover to reduce the number of times use of force is required, specifically in scenarios where the subject police have encountered is unarmed. Our employees are held accountable to the citizens of Minneapolis by ensuring that they adhere to the policies and procedures of the MPD. We also assist with the Development of employees for future roles within the MPD. Both our New Supervisor Orientation and Officer Leadership Development course have used the lens of Chief Huffman’s vision to help prepare the future leaders of the MPD. Our Training Unit provides contemporary training to ensure both our new employees and current employees meet required licensure standards set by the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Some examples of this training include POST-mandated learning objectives such as use of force training and Emergency Vehicle Operations training. Much of the classroom training is developed by the League of Minnesota Cities and is offered through the PATROL Online training portal. Another part of Administration is Research and Development (R & D). R & D continues to ensure that our policies are updated to meet any changes in law and best police practices, are reviewed and address changes in outdated policies, and address changes/or enact new policy as directed by the Chief.

The Professional Standards Bureau is pivotal in spearheading transformational change and cultural competency, developing and implementing effective training, developing new staffing models to improve resource utilization, and implementing new policies and procedures. It is important to maintain its resources enabling personnel to execute necessary change.

Race equity impacts

The Administration and Professional Standards Bureau have become more understanding with respect to Racial Equity. We have incorporated this understanding in several areas. We have formed a relationship with the local NAACP chapter. This relationship will see NAACP leaders interact with our new employees by meeting them, talking to them, and gaining a better understanding of our training. We have re-established the relationship with the former Police Community Relations Council (PCRC) under the newly created Unity Community Mediation Team (UCMT). Work with the PCRC/UCMT will result in a new Memorandum of Agreement regarding policies, procedures and conduct of Minneapolis Police employees to better serve all communities of Minneapolis, but specifically the BIPOC community. Our IAU partnership with the Office of Police Conduct and Review (OPCR) is a civilian-based oversight process that gives options to citizens for complaint investigation. This in turn can give BIPOC the option to have complaints investigated by a civilian investigator through the city of Minneapolis. The Internal Affairs Division also works closely with the City of Minneapolis Human Resources Business Partners and assists them in investigations

Mission and goals

The MPD’s Community Engagement and Outreach Bureau consists of two divisions, Recruitment/Hiring and Procedural Justice, involving nine units: Recruitment, Backgrounds, Community Service Officers, Court Liaison, Procedural Justice, Community Navigators, Chaplain Program, Community Engagement Team and Homeless and Vulnerable Population Initiative. The role these units play within the MPD is significant and contributes to the overall goal in seeking qualified individuals to become police officers and conduct outreach to the communities we serve.

The City of Minneapolis benefits from the efforts of this bureau are twofold: the MPD can recruit qualified personnel who reflect the makeup of the city, while also conducting general and group-specific outreach to communities that have troubled, traumatizing, or mistrusting relationships with the MPD. The benefits for the communities-at-large are also twofold: the bureau makes considerable efforts to diversify the body of the MPD through recruitment; this diversification enables the community to see that the MPD has heard the request for a department that better reflects said community.

Due to reductions in staff continuing into 2021, personnel from several Community Engagement and Outreach units have recently been transferred to other Bureaus, primarily Public Safety Services (Patrol) and Investigations, to allow the MPD to concentrate on MPD’s core function of public safety. The MPD remains committed to outreach and community engagement efforts, but to safely fulfill 911 response and investigatory efforts to address crime, the Community Engagement Team and the Procedural Justice Unit have been redeployed. While the MPD continues its outreach and engagement efforts through the remaining units as well as through the other bureaus including Patrol, Professional Standards and Investigations, staff reductions in Community Engagement and Outreach will significantly impact efforts previously performed by the Bureau.

Services provided

The bureau has impacted the MPD and community in several important ways. Recruitment is the lifeblood of any organization. The MPD has focused on trying to bring in more minorities/BIPOC while also endeavoring to change the culture of the organization through Procedural Justice. As we go through this transformation, a greater emphasis has also been placed upon how we interact with the communities we serve. The expansion of focus on those who may not come to us for assistance or may fall in the social service gaps, is recognized as an important goal of the MPD. Every unit in the bureau reflects this in makeup, focus, and personnel. Examples of this are the over 19,000 community and professional networking contacts per year. In the past, Division members participated in over 1,500 community and professional forums. In 2019, the Division delivered half a dozen Community Awareness Program (CAP) presentations, several Cultural Training sessions to the MPD Police Academies and presented the tenets of Procedural Justice/Implicit Bias at our annual In-Service Training. Personnel also gave public safety presentations to Twin Cities Pride and the NCAA, Procedural Justice training to community groups, non-profits, and merchants, hosted 19 Coffee with a Cop/Tea with a Cop listening forums at various local McDonald’s restaurants, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority locations and other local businesses. Members also resource mapped and attended weekly MSTAT meeting at all precincts, so they could be informed and disseminate the appropriate information to the community, posted weekly events and information on social media for community members and partnered with My Little Free Library organization to build numerous My Little Free Libraries and later installed them in our communities. Team members also assist with the yearly Battle of the Badges BBQ, the Community Holiday Blessing Toy Give-a-Way for over 1,000 families and partnered with the Hy-Vee Corporation to provide over 400 hams during the holiday season. The Bureau also partnered with the St. Vincent DePaul Food Bank to pack and distribute over 800 Thanksgiving meals. Over the course of the year, units within the division resourced and gave over 150 bicycles, 2,000 football and soccer balls, and 1,550 bike helmets. In the past year the division also started the Redwing Initiative, Take back the Parks and Chat with the Chief listening series. While Procedural Justice training will continue within the MPD, many of these past engagement efforts coordinated and fulfilled by the Community Engagement Team and Procedural Justice unit will be scaled back as we adjust to the recent staff reductions.

Division personnel also responded to over 75 crime scenes along with the chaplains responding to over 150 incidents per year. Offering culturally competent, language-specific, and religion-sensitive crime scene assistance and follow up with community members addressing their immediate needs and concerns. They also engaged with the youth in areas where serious crimes occurred, offering a non-threatening police response, attempting to make them feel safe, build trust, and reassure the community that we are here for them as a department. Members of the bureau encouraged Officers and City personnel to contact them when they needed assistance and/or resources to conduct outreach within the community.

Race equity impacts

The bureau has impacted the MPD and community in several important ways. Recruitment is the lifeblood of any organization. The MPD has focused on trying to bring in more minorities/BIPOC while also endeavoring to change the culture of the organization through Procedural Justice. As we go through this transformation, a greater emphasis has also been placed upon how we interact with the communities we serve. The expansion of focus on those who may not come to us for assistance or may fall in the social service gaps, is recognized as an important goal of the MPD. Every unit in the bureau reflects this in makeup, focus, and personnel. Examples of this are the over 19,000 community and professional networking contacts per year. In the past, Division members participated in over 1,500 community and professional forums. In 2019, the Division delivered half a dozen Community Awareness Program (CAP) presentations, several Cultural Training sessions to the MPD Police Academies and presented the tenets of Procedural Justice/Implicit Bias at our annual In-Service Training. Personnel also gave public safety presentations to Twin Cities Pride and the NCAA, Procedural Justice training to community groups, non-profits, and merchants, hosted 19 Coffee with a Cop/Tea with a Cop listening forums at various local McDonald’s restaurants, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority locations and other local businesses. Members also resource mapped and attended weekly MSTAT meeting at all precincts, so they could be informed and disseminate the appropriate information to the community, posted weekly events and information on social media for community members and partnered with My Little Free Library organization to build numerous My Little Free Libraries and later installed them in our communities. Team members also assist with the yearly Battle of the Badges BBQ, the Community Holiday Blessing Toy Give-a-Way for over 1,000 families and partnered with the Hy-Vee Corporation to provide over 400 hams during the holiday season. The Bureau also partnered with the St. Vincent DuPaul Food Bank to pack and distribute over 800 Thanksgiving meals. Over the course of the year, units within the division resourced and gave over 150 bicycles, 2,000 football and soccer balls, and 1,550 bike helmets. In the past year the division also started the Redwing Initiative, Take back the Parks and Chat with the Chief listening series. While Procedural Justice training will continue within the MPD, many of these past engagement efforts coordinated and fulfilled by the Community Engagement Team and Procedural Justice unit will be scaled back as we adjust to the recent staff reductions.

Division personnel also responded to over 75 crime scenes along with the chaplains responding to over 150 incidents per year. Offering culturally competent, language-specific, and religion-sensitive crime scene assistance and follow up with community members addressing their immediate needs and concerns. They also engaged with the youth in areas where serious crimes occurred, offering a non-threatening police response, attempting to make them feel safe, build trust, and reassure the community that we are here for them as a department. Members of the bureau encouraged Officers and City personnel to contact them when they needed assistance and/or resources to conduct outreach within the community.

Mission and goals

The purpose of the Patrol Bureau is to supply patrol personnel, civilian staff, and investigators to five police precincts located throughout Minneapolis, with the goal of providing emergency response to criminal activity and to be responsive to 911 calls and community needs for safety and security. Each precinct provides patrol support to a different geographic area of the city. These dedicated employees provide exceptional and equitable customer service to all. In addition to officers responding to 911 calls for service on neighborhood beats, a variety of other services are provided by the Patrol Bureau. In 2022, these services include: precinct-level investigations for property-related crimes, Community Response Teams that investigate localized crime issues and narcotics investigations, Bicycle Rapid Response Team (BRRT) and Mounted Unit support for events.

The bulk of the Patrol Bureau is comprised of patrol officers and their supervisors. The Patrol Bureau contributes to the police department’s values of Trust, Accountability, and Professional Service as its officers respond to a wide variety of 911 calls each day. Community members have a voice in all situations, so they can share their ideas, observations, and concerns with officers, while officers remain neutral in their work efforts, supporting a respectful relationship between officers and those they serve. The goal is to create an environment of trust to further support the common goal of a safe community for everyone.

Public safety is a critical need for all communities. Residents, business owners and employees, and visitors benefit from having a law enforcement agency. Safety allows for people to successfully live, work and play. It is critical that the Patrol Bureau can be responsive to the needs of the community. Accessibility to the community in which they serve is of a critical nature. Allowing community to express their questions and concerns allows for further dialogue as to how best to resolve crime patterns within the city. Civilian staff allow us the opportunity to expand our outreach deeper into the neighborhoods.

Services provided

The primary role of the Patrol Bureau is to provide uniformed response to emergency 911 calls for service, as well as proactive patrol in assigned neighborhood areas. In addition to the primary role of 911 call response and neighborhood beat patrols, there are several unique units that are part of the Patrol Bureau. They each perform duties within their assigned precincts to enhance safety for Minneapolis, providing an opportunity for engagement that does not always exist for the patrol officers responding to calls for service.

While the additional units in Patrol are described below, it is important to note that due to the reduction of personnel because of an unexpected increase in attrition, personnel in some of these unique units have or are expected to be redeployed to other duties such as 911 response. Examples of the impact of staff reductions include the following:

• Reduction of shift strength, resulting in increased response times
• Reduced ability to investigate livability investigations and property crimes
• Reduction or elimination of precinct CRT Units to maintain 911 response staffing
• Elimination of neighborhood beats to maintain 911 response staffing
• Reduced flexibility in other Patrol assignments

Each precinct has dedicated investigators assigned to a Property Crimes Unit. These units are tasked with investigating the largest volume of crimes in the city. Due to the volume of thefts and burglaries, the Property Crimes detectives have significant contact with victims of crime. In addition to investigating thefts and burglaries, they also investigate cases of damage to property and missing persons. These investigators rely on communications with crime victims and witnesses to aid in their case investigations. Property Crimes investigators work closely with Precinct civilian staff to aid in their investigations. Crime Analysts are good resources for investigative assistance. Due to the decrease in staffing, the number of Property Crimes investigators within the Precincts has been reduced to approximately two per precinct, which has reduced their investigative capacity significantly.

Precinct Community Response Teams (CRTs) are additional investigative units. They are a resource to community stakeholders who are experiencing unique crimes that require case investigation at the precinct level. These investigative teams are a benefit to the Precinct Inspectors and the community served. CRTs are available to respond quickly to the Precinct Inspectors and can modify their work based on stakeholder needs, crime analysis findings and community complaints. Their work is efficient and tactically based on the complaints brought forward by the community. By monitoring the needs of the community, meeting with stakeholders and developing strategies, they can address matters in a timely manner. CRTs frequently address complaints from neighbors and businesses about illegal drug sales. CRT teams also actively partner with the Gun Investigations Unit focused on addressing violent and gun related crimes.

The CRT teams serve the community by working collaboratively to address identified issues in the neighborhoods. CRTs have developed relationships with social service agencies that operate within the various precincts. During their investigations, team members provide information to supportive agencies that can be of assistance. Without the benefits of these precinct-level investigative units, property crimes cases would likely move to a secondary investigation over violent crimes. Although violent crimes are far more dangerous, create a stigma and fear in neighborhoods and attract a lot of attention, property crimes impact far more victims due to the volume of these crimes in comparison to violent crimes. All communities deserve to have access to precinct-level investigative teams who are dedicated to collaborating with community and precinct staff to resolve crime issues. Historically, each precinct was staffed with a dedicated Community Response Team. Due to the significant department-wide reduction in available staff, the number of CRT Units was reduced to two, and the remaining personnel were reallocated to core services in 911 response and investigations. The two remaining CRT Units have taken on city-wide responsibility, which has reduced their capacity to address the individual concerns in each of the five precincts.

Strategic Operations Division (SOD) handles investigations into firearms and weapons-related offenses, as well as provides proactive enforcement focused on gun violence within the community. Investigators within the unit handle in-custody investigations as well as proactively seeking out the perpetrators of violent crime through evidence, intelligence, and analysis. The unit partners with other local, state, and federal agencies to provide focused and data-driven proactive enforcement and investigations. SOD also partners and coordinates with the Community Response Teams to conduct proactive focused enforcement details to address gun violence and emergent patterns of violent crime. SOD is crucial to addressing gun violence within the community, which is experiencing a two-year increase of 102%.

Civilian Crime Analysts monitor a variety of resources to track crime patterns within the precincts and provide analysis related to crime trends and data. Analysts work closely with those within the precinct and other units to monitor what is occurring in relation to past, current, and future crime trends. Crime Analysts process vast amounts of data that is used not only to direct the operations of the division but also to provide information on existing and emerging crime trends. Data sets are analyzed using a plethora of computer software systems including, but not limited to, ARC GISpro, Tableau, Cognos, PIMS, and many others. Some specific projects they are involved with include MSTAT, Weekly shoot reviews, and yearly crime reporting to the FBI. By monitoring reported crimes and 911 calls, they can assist with directing geographic patrol efforts and support investigations in the work they do each day. Weekly meetings and communication with the patrol supervisors/officers aid in effectively managing precinct resources to have the most impact on crime patterns.

The Mounted Patrol Unit falls under the First Precinct in Downtown Minneapolis. The Mounted Patrol provides mounted horse patrol service and support to all five police precincts. Most of the Mounted Patrol personnel are assigned full-time elsewhere within the police department. Their Mounted Patrol assignment is a secondary position within the department. The mission is primarily achieved by providing highly visible officer presence in neighborhoods that have experienced increased criminal activity and by providing crowd management for special events and weekend activities associated with late-night entertainment. The increased visibility provided to officers on horseback is a strong benefit of the Mounted Patrol enforcement, especially important due to reduced staffing. Mounted officers are more visible in the community both as a crime deterrent and the increased visibility encourages youth and adults to engage with the horses and officers, enhancing community trust through countless positive public interactions. Having increased time and opportunity to engage with community members outside of an emergency or safety complaint allows for uninterrupted communication and the development of relationships. The Mounted Patrol Unit is an invaluable asset and public relations tool for the city of Minneapolis.

The Bicycle Rapid Response Team (BRRT) is also assigned under the First Precinct. Similarly, most of its members are assigned on a part-time basis. The BRRT provides a highly visible and extremely mobile response to a variety of situations throughout the city. Officers on bicycles also have a unique role within the department to act as ambassadors for the city. Their response to emergencies as well as participation in various events gives them the opportunity to positively engage with the community from a more interactive approach. BRRT members are instrumental in leading groups of citizens safely through city streets, whether as part of large-scale celebrations or to support demonstrations. The flexible nature of this group, with both mobility and a skillset that makes them an invaluable team for the Patrol Bureau. Due to the nature of Minnesota weather, Mounted Patrol and BRRT do not generally operate year around for the safety of the personnel as well as reduced community accessibility.

In 2020, Patrol Beats were staffed in all five precincts. Beat officers facilitate relationship building between officers and the community through face-to-face interaction and effective communication while responding to and resolving neighborhood crime issues and livability needs. Beat officers enhance the ability to work collaboratively with neighborhoods and businesses. Problem-solving, relationship building, and flexibility are key to the success of beat officers. Beat officers are assigned to geographic areas. Their unique role allows them ownership of their beats. They are directly connected to the area’s business leaders and communities. They provide a sense of connectivity between themselves, neighbors, visitors, and businesses. Beat officers are a familiar face for the community, they understand the resources available and can work effectively in partnership with existing community assets to connect those who are vulnerable with needed support. However, due to the decrease in staffing, the MPD is no longer able to support Beat Officers within the Precincts and they have been redeployed to 911 response core services.

In 2020, Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO) were staffed in the Third Precinct. They were a variation on a beat, with a focus on assisting neighbors and businesses with problems in their community. They provided exceptional and equitable customer service to everyone in the community. NCOs focused on finding solutions that are fair to all persons involved and resolving complex situations the community is experiencing. They can transform matters that are having a negative impact on the community into a positive outcome for all. NCOs were accessible to the community via cell phone, e-mail or in person. They had the capability to respond more thoroughly to complicated situations that may take more time to resolve than a 911 responder can provide. They had the time, expertise, and critical thinking to deliver exceptional service and had the resources and relationships built throughout the city to resolve a multitude of issues that arise. However, due to attrition, the MPD is no longer able to support Beat Officers within the Precincts and they have been redeployed to 911 response core services.

Race equity impacts

The race equity impacts of police work can be significant. Within the Patrol Bureau, we generally have limited control over the people we serve. When a 911 call is placed, we respond to the need. In recent years we have had more training and education about what the needs are and how past traumas are incredibly impactful on those we serve. The work of the Patrol Bureau is far-reaching and leaves an impression on those we meet during our day. Consciously acknowledging the historical trauma and impacts of our work should always be a consideration when responding to emergencies and working to resolve crime patterns and community concerns. Listening to community members and not only hearing what they are expressing but reacting to their needs is key. Whether in responding to a 911 call, visiting with local business employees and customers, meeting with residents at a community event, or taking phone calls at the desk, we should always be engaged in learning more from those we serve.

So many Patrol Bureau functions have a unique way of touching lives. Patrol officers work well with the residents they serve. Beat officers are known by name and the community asks for more of them. Residents feel heard when relationships are built and know their voices mean something. The neighborhoods are racially and culturally diverse and now more than ever we are experiencing tremendous population growth among so many vast immigrant cultures. Hiring more officers who reflect all our culturally diverse communities is a tremendous opportunity for our agency to grow, giving the police community an opportunity to become as diverse as those we serve. By the very nature of their work, beat officers can build relationships and have a better understanding and unique awareness of the issues affecting and services benefiting the communities where they work.

Racial and economic inequities experienced by Minneapolis residents, business owners and other stakeholders could be addressed by the reallocation of police resources within the city. However, the Patrol Bureau personnel are currently distributed by a variety of factors, including the volume of 911 calls received and crimes reported. Many high-call areas of the city are lower-income communities and communities of color. Additionally, gun violence disproportionately affects communities of color both by location and victimization. With additional resources, more officers could be distributed to the areas most impacted by crime. Adding police personnel to areas with a higher concentration of crime would allow for more time spent on 911 calls. With the ever-increasing volume of 911 calls, a growing population, and community concerns about safety, adequate precinct staffing would be key to building and maintaining trust with the community. We need officers to respond to residents in need without long delays and we need officers to be able to take enough time during each call to listen, understand the situation, and provide professional service. Demonstrating care and concern takes time, attention, and commitment to those we serve. Preserving the various unique positions within the Patrol Bureau will advance the mission of the police department by prioritizing community outreach and collaboration. These same positions carry out the City’s goal of safety, vitality, and growth as well as to support neighborhood stability, growth, and economic development.

As part of the REIA process, community engagement seems the likeliest way for the Patrol Bureau to ensure racial equity occurs within the work we do each day. Listening and considering alternatives to how we accomplish various aspects of the job are possible with every encounter we have on the job. Utilizing our skill sets and training and taking the time to hear what is being communicated to us, will make a difference. Beat officers, Neighborhood Coordination Officers, Mounted Patrol, and Bicycle Rapid Response Team are just a few ways to use the specialized skills and talents that are ever-present within the Patrol Bureau. Going above and beyond to keep the community safe is the goal and commitment to service engagement helps us to achieve it.