Minneapolis continues community safety progress in 2025

June 12, 2025
Public Service

Minneapolis safety leaders combined efforts to deliver coordinated, comprehensive, and equitable safety services, a Quarter 2 progress report shows. Forward steps taken include the addition of critical leadership positions, milestones in police and community safety reform, and successes in officer and staff recruitment – all leading to a safer Minneapolis.

“We have done much to create a safer, more equitable City over the past few months,” said Community Safety Commissioner Toddrick Barnette. “Improving safety and reforming both our police department and our approach to community safety will continue to be my priority. I am excited about our progress, but there is much more work to do.”

Commissioner Barnette added that the work of the Office of Community Safety (OCS) is at the intersection of police reform and reimagining community safety - one cannot be successful without the other when the goal is sustainable, lasting change.

Office of Community Safety

Minneapolis Police Department (MPD)

  • The City of Minneapolis made significant strides in police reform efforts, according to annual report by independent evaluator. Read release
  • Minneapolis saw sustained decreases in many types of crime citywide.
  • MPD made historic appointments of the first civilian bureau chiefs - Ayodele Famodu as Chief of the Internal Affairs Bureau and Ganesha Martin as Chief of the Constitutional Policing Bureau. Read release
  • Officer recruitment continues to progress, with 17 new officers joining the force in a graduation ceremony on May 21. A 36-member recruiting class began last week – the largest such class since the 1990s. The result is a force of more than 600 sworn officers for the first time since 2023. Read Release

Emergency Management (EMD)

  • Minneapolis’ EMD is reorienting its approach from addressing ‘things that happen’ to addressing ‘the people things happen to.’
  • More emphasis is being given to increasing preparedness awareness and outreach, both internally as well as across Minneapolis to residents and businesses.
  • This includes enhancing the City’s public warning and alert system, Smart911. Sign up for Smart911 alerts by texting MPLSAlerts to 77295 or going online here.

Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD)

  • Graduated 19 members of the 2025 Cohort of the MFD EMS Pathways Academy.
  • MFD has made progress integrating the Behavioral Crisis Response into the department,
  • Software upgrades will improving MFD’s incident reporting.
  • Expansion of Safe Station program to MFD Station 7, located in the Seward neighborhood.

Neighborhood Safety (NSD)

  • Named Amanda Harrington as new Director of Neighborhood Safety.
  • NSD finalized contracts with violence prevention services and will be focused on deploying those services in Minneapolis communities. Read Release
  • NSD will also be implementing a master contract for violence prevention to respond to emerging situations citywide as needed.
  • NSD has implemented financial management practices to ensure financial transparency and accountability, identifying clear metrics and reporting requirements to better track performance and inform the deployment of vendor resources.

911 / Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center (MECC)

  • 911/ MECC reports that increased staffing has led to a reduction of overtime needs while at the same time, alleviating pressures on staff.
  • A new 911 dashboard listing each incident has provided the public with a level of transparency as the City moved to encrypt radio communication to meet compliance with state and federal regulations concerning the confidentiality of private information and first responder safety. Read Release

Commissioner Barnette and OCS department heads described these updates at the City Council’s Public Health and Safety (PHS) Committee meeting held yesterday. The full presentation can be found here and the video of the PHS committee meeting can be found on the City’s Youtube page.

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