Minneapolis To Increase Police Presence Through Labor Day
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The mayor and police chief of Minneapolis announced Wednesday that the Minneapolis Police Department will be increasing police resources in north Minneapolis as well as crime hot spots in south Minneapolis.
The police department will be approving overtime for four more officers and one more supervisor in north Minneapolis -- along with four more officers in south Minneapolis – from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. every day through Labor Day.
"Additional resources right now in these parts of the city will help create a safer city for everyone," Mayor Betsy Hodges said. "I have a responsibility for public safety in the city of Minneapolis. I am ensuring the police department has the resources they need to achieve our public safety goals."
The announcement comes after a series of deadly shootings this summer in north Minneapolis that prompted Police Chief Janeé Harteau to walk the beat in early July.
"Two weeks ago, the Mayor and I walked the streets of the 4th Precinct. Two days later I biked through the 3rd Precinct," Harteau said. "I heard from residents and shared some of our strategies. Our goal with these additional resources is to further disrupt the environment of violence. Through increased visibility, focused enforcement and continued community engagement this summer, violent crime is down in the past two weeks in those precincts, as it is citywide. I expect that the additional resources we are adding will further enhance this positive trend."
The increased presence comes on top of already increased bike and foot patrol officers, doubled shot-spotter coverage and Joint Enforcement Teams that have already been deployed in north Minneapolis, city officials said.
