OFFICE OF MAYOR R.T. RYBAK
MEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT
October 12th, 2005
Contact: Jeremy Hanson
Phone: 612-673-2785
Mobile: 612-306-5274
Mayor Rybak and Chief McManus Report on
Success of Minneapolis Strategic Safety Partnership
61-day summer initiative reduced homicides, shootings and gang activity
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Police Chief William McManus today reported
that the Minneapolis Strategic Safety Partnership successfully reduced the
number of homicides and shootings in Minneapolis and increased the number of
guns confiscated. As one of the Police Department's (MPD) primary 2005 public
safety initiatives, the Partnership ran from July 1 - August 31 and coordinated
numerous federal, state and regional resources to enhance Minneapolis' capacity
to prevent and respond to violent crime, especially gang-related crime in key
neighborhoods.
In a report released today, the Partnership is credited with reducing homicides
by 33% and reducing violent shootings by 4% when compared to the same period in
2004. Only one homicide occurred in the priority areas during this time and it
did not appear to be gang-related. Homicides reduced 63% in the 4th Precinct
(Northside) and 67% in the 3rd Precinct (Southside), both of which were
priority areas for the initiative.
Citywide Change in Murders Before and After Strategic Safety Partnership:
1/1/04 6/30/04 = 20
1/1/05 6/30/05 = 31
% Change Pre-MSSP = +55%
7/1/04 8/31/04 = 12
7/1/05 8/31/05 = 8
% Change During MSSP = -33%
"Our main purpose with this strategy was to target gangs, drugs, and guns,"
Chief McManus reported. "Our goal here was to reduce violence in the five most
problematic neighborhoods in the City. We accomplished that goal by reducing
duplication of efforts, coordinating leadership, assigning accountability for
specific gangs, enhancing intelligence, and leveraging our limited resources."
Rybak and McManus released details of the report in North Minneapolis' North
Commons park, one of six city parks where evening youth activities were
integrated into the broader public safety strategy. The General Mills
Foundation, Target Corporation, U.S. Bank, Cub Foods, Minneapolis Foundation,
Northway Community Trust, and the Minneapolis Empowerment Zone contributed
funding to extend the hours of parks in the most troubling neighborhoods in the
City.
"On average, 225 kids participated in the extended park hours each night,"
reported Mayor Rybak. "Moreover, there were no violent assaults in any of
these parks during this time. We believe that by working with the community we
can enhance the good work of our police and reduce crime in the most troubled
areas. These business and philanthropic efforts helped make our community
safer."
Rybak said that the unique partnerships employed by this crime-fighting
strategy were based on best practices collected from around the country and
could become a model for other cities.
"Leveraging innovative partnerships is critical because, although they're on
the front line, Minneapolis Police officers are just a part of a larger
public-safety team. In 2004, 70% of the people accused of murder in
Minneapolis were repeat offenders on probation from county corrections when
they committed murder, so we have engaged our county and federal partners in an
even more tightly coordinated effort to stop crime at its source," Rybak said.
Federal partners included the Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S.
Marshals, and U.S. Attorney. State of Minnesota partners include the Gang Task
Force and Department of Corrections.
Local partners included the Hennepin County Sheriff, County Attorney, County
Corrections and Probation, Metro Transit Authority Police, University of
Minnesota Police, St. Paul Police Department, Minneapolis Police Community
Relations Council, Step Up/Achieve Minneapolis, Minneapolis Parks, Minneapolis
Empowerment Zone and the Minneapolis City Attorney.
Community organizations that participated included Folwell Neighborhood
Organization, Jordan Area Community Council, Hawthorne Area Community Council,
Pillsbury United Communities, Mad Dads, and the Minnesota Black Chamber of
Commerce.
"I am very concerned about gang-related violence and its affect on our
neighborhoods. We responded with a targeted and coordinated plan to keep
residents safe. This strategic approach to preventing and responding to
violent crime is exactly what we needed and must be continued. Now we can
learn from our progress and integrate success into our ongoing efforts to
reduce crime," Mayor Rybak said.
# # #
Jer Hanson
phone: 612.306.5274
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"if you asked me what i came into this world to do,
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