Chief Dolan Asks Citizens To Call In Curfew Violations...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

Last week, Minneapolis Chief Dolan addressed community concerns about crime, and asked for help from the public. One of the things Chief Dolan requested was for members of the public to call in curfew violations. Of course, the fact Hennepin County has an overly-complicated curfew law....

...makes matters slightly more difficult. Many times I've heard the curfew law summarized as "no juveniles out after midnight," which is just, well, inadequate as far as a thumbnail summary.

I mean, 12-year-olds aren't supposed to be out past NINE, for crying out loud, so why would I want to wait THREE WHOLE HOURS to call in a 12-year-old violating curfew? That's shortchanging the juvenile, (who should be home safe) the police and the neighborhood.

Yes, there are freebie fridge magnets floating around which provide handy-dandy reference to the curfew times, but I decided to create something even handier: a virtual fridge magnet.

If you look to the right side of this blog, right above the "No Chimos" logo (No Child Molestors) you will notice I have made an image of the curfew fridge magnet a permanent feature of this blog. So, whenever readers see a juvenile out late at night, and want to check the curfew times against the perceived age of the juvenile...just pull up this blog and look at the fridge magnet. You can get the times that way. This is Johnny Northside Dot Com's way of showing support for Chief Dolan.

And now a few words from the chief...

Last weekend was very busy, and I am sure that many of you are wondering what the police department is doing to keep the city safe. We know the one of the keys to prevention is to have police where crime is most likely to occur. We also know that some high density areas need police presence for people to feel safe. Being visible and proactive in those areas is key. I salute our patrol officers because their proactive traffic stops have been up dramatically in the last few weeks.

We are also focusing resources on identifying likely offenders. We have different efforts targeted at known violent offenders ranging from daily intelligence to patrol officers and undercover efforts by investigators. Getting guns off the street is important. Our evidentiary gun seizures are up 16 percent from last year. Officers have taken nearly 400 guns off the street this year already.

We need the help of the community. One of the patterns we did see with the fatal shootings over the past weekend was that they were related to parties and disturbances. I will never have enough officers to have someone at every street corner in the city. I also know you would not want to see officers on every corner. We depend on residents to call 911 to report those parties and disturbances. A timely appearance at any one of those parties last weekend by a neighborhood squad would likely have prevented some shootings. We also want to know about kids out after curfew. Curfew hours vary depending on age and the day of the week. Simply put though: no one under eighteen should be out past midnight. Parents should know where their kids are, and they should not be letting their kids stay out late anywhere. Time and time again we find that kids out after curfew are not engaged in productive activities and we want to curtail that behavior.

Our crime rates are still low. The overall year-to-date crime rate in 2010 is down from 2008 which was down from 2007 and 2006. No crime is ever acceptable, but I feel that many are using our recent crime increase as a tool to try to instill fear into all who would live and visit Minneapolis. I ask that we all become more determined. Be extra observant and please call 911 when you believe we should be intervening.

Thank You.
Timothy J. Dolan
Chief of Police

Residents, Community Leaders Discuss Violent Crime at Hawthorne Huddle

Post and photos by the Hawthorne Hawkman

"We definitely need help in Lind-Bohanon," said Barb Carruthers, a resident of the neighborhood for over thirty years. She echoed the concerns of another resident, Chris Painter, who noted three recent homicides in the Lind-Bohanon community.

Inspector Mike Martin corrected Painter, saying that in one of those shootings, the victim survived. "I know that doesn't make it any safer," he added.

With the recent increase in violent crime in Minneapolis as the topic, over 100 residents, community leaders, and public officials gathered on Thursday June 2nd at the Hawthorne Huddle. Many residents clearly stated that they didn't want to see yet another meeting with nothing more than lip service, and understandably so. Yet such meetings aren't meant to solve the problem the instant people walk out the door. Concerns were expressed and heard, possible causes and solutions discussed, and partnerships forged as we work to address violent crimes in Minneapolis.

(Other media entities, such as KSTP and Minnesota Public Radio, have reported on this event, but JNS got to it first, and this particular entry will likely be the most comprehensive. Thank you, readers, for your time and loyalty)

To get things started, Mike Martin spoke about...

...focusing on some of the main corridors such as Broadway Avenue and Lowry Avenue, as well as nodes where crime tends to be concentrated, like 36th and Penn or 36th and Lyndale. After his comments, one person spoke about how the cameras and lighting have made "a huge difference" on Penn and Lowry.

Chief Dolan spoke about how violent crime among juveniles remains down, and that our efforts from previous years are paying off. On the face of it, this seems incongruent with the claims of some of the community members present, that we need more programs for the youth. However, if these youth programs keep our young people from winding up as the future adult violent offenders, then everybody wins.

Dolan also stated that half of the homicides this year involved robberies and/or narcotics as a suspected motive, and five were gang-related. So what do we do about it? Dolan said the MPD and their partners will focus on predictive targeted strategies to go after the most prolific offenders. In normal English, this apparently means they will target individuals and gangs using both street and undercover efforts to get the top ten offenders in each geographic area locked up.

Guns are also a common denominator in most of the violent crimes. And the MPD works with the county and United States attorneys to aggressively pursue gun violence. A "good gun arrest" is one that goes to the courts and is successfully used to hold individuals accountable.

Mike Martin added that year-to-date, 286 guns have been taken off of the street. "Every one is a gun that won't be used to shoot someone." 44% of those have come from north Minneapolis, and in one case, 57 guns were taken from one person alone. This person apparently was not in or from north Minneapolis, because Martin said that without that case, 53% of guns confiscated year-to-date would have come from north Minneapolis.

Mayor Rybak spoke about how this is "an absolutely unacceptable level of violence, and in marked contrast" to the progress we have made over the past three years. This is certainly not the first such meeting in Hawthorne on this topic, as a similar forum happened in 2006. In contrast to that forum, the most vocal residents were from much farther north than before.

In laying out a five-point strategy, Rybak said "Anyone who commits a violent crime anywhere in the city should feel the heat." The five strategies Rybak detailed are:

1. Continued focus on targeted and intelligence-led policing strategies.

2. Targeted efforts on known violent offenders.

3. Greater focus on gun seizures and preventing gun violence. While articulating this strategy, Rybak said they ask where do the guns used in violent crimes come from? And the answer is that many make it to the streets after being stolen from gun shops.

4. Continued focus on Juvenile crime.

5. Increased community engagement and support for community-led efforts to reduce violent crime. Here, he began to close his remarks by saying, "Now more than ever, we need the police and community" to work together. "We are frustrated, we are angry, and we are acting."

These community partnerships with the police department and the city were a crucial factor in making part one offenses virtually non-existent in the Hawthorne EcoVillage, and I for one offer whatever assistance I can give to the affected neighborhoods AND city departments to do what we can to replicate that success elsewhere. Whether I do these things in my capacity as Hawthorne Housing Director or as a volunteer, I am just as committed to helping however I can.

Chief Dolan was up next, and emphatically stated that "This chief and this mayor made juvenile crime a priority." He focused on prevention efforts such as the truancy supervision center. When a 13-year-old is out on the streets at 1 a.m. "there's only two things that are going to happen, neither of them good. They're either going to commit a crime or have a crime committed against them."

So the county is committed to using the truancy supervision center as a means to keep kids off the streets until their parents can get them, and ultimately keep kids in school so they don't miss opportunities to learn the life skills needed to stay off the streets.

The county is also focused on felony gun cases. When (ex)felons who are not supposed to have guns are caught with them, that's a pretty open-and-shut case that makes a huge difference in getting violent offenders off of the streets. Just like in drug dealing cases, the county is less concerned with the small fish and more focused on finding the source. This is much harder with guns, however.

Finally, Freeman noted that community impact statements make a huge difference when residents can either write up their account or ideally show up in court to testify how we're affected by an individual's violent acts. And geographic restrictions are quite helpful in that they allow the police to take action whenever a person is even seen in an area they've previously terrorized and are not supposed to be in.

VJ Smith of MAD DADS spoke next about how young people on the streets are looking for love that they don't have at home. He announced a community resources fair being held on Saturday, June 12, 11-4 at 900 W Broadway, in the McDonald's parking lot. For more information, contact V.J. at 612-455-4632 or vjsmith@urbanventures.org. "Everybody's sick and tired of just sitting around and talking. Let's get busy."

Smith spoke about how in one day of outreach, he made 158 referrals of people who want help, and got them in contact with places that can offer the necessary resources. Many kids, according to Smith, start with gang affiliation as early as the 5th grade, and most start because of issues in the home.

Smith was the first person to get any kind of applause, when he closed with his remarks, "I want to be the heart behind what goes down (on the streets)...that's not law enforcement's job, but that's MY job."

Once the floor was open for questions, Chris Painter of Lind-Bohanon described her situation as noted in the opening of this post. Part of the difficulties in her neighborhood is that many people are either afraid to go on walking patrols, even with MAD DADS, or they work long enough hours that they just don't have the time. When she said she was feeling neglected, Martin and Rybak responded that there is a constant struggle with the allocation of resources, but they're familiar with all of the people doing crimes.

The other Lind-Bohanon resident, Barb Carruthers, said she has identified four drug houses on her block alone, and that in one case, she saw one car pull up and do eight drug deals in ten minutes before leaving. That's how quickly this kind of thing happens.

Troy Parker, who ran for city council in Ward 4, brought the issues to his concern of joblessness among those committing crimes. He brought up MnDOT and its failure to hire sufficient numbers of minorities.

(Hawkman interjects: What's the issue with MnDOT complaints anyway? I've seen reports that make it appear as though they ought to be doing a better job hiring minorities. But what I don't see is a connection that so many people make between that and the need for jobs in north Minneapolis. Plus, the city of Minneapolis doesn't have authority over MnDOT. And it's not as if MnDOT is the only game in town, and I also haven't seen it clearly articulated that MnDOT's improvements would have such a huge impact in NoMi. Am I missing some detail about MnDOT or is this fixation misguided in some way?)

Rybak wanted to keep the focus on the tactical response to the crime, but did say that now in Minneapolis unemployment is lower than it is in many of the suburbs - a rarity in metropolitan areas. Mike Christenson of CPED also stated that 2300 youth will be employed this summer through the city's job program. And out of 300 residential rehabs in north Minneapolis, 50% are being done by Northside or minority contractors. (He didn't bring up the high performance of the Ackerberg Group/Catalyst along West Broadway in this regard, but I will.) Christenson said that MnDOT should model itself after the city's success.

Other residents expressed frustration that people move out of the neighborhoods due to crime, and that opens the doors for slum landlords to buy properties and rent to people who perpetuate the cycle. And another asked what we can do about the fact that funding streams for youth programs are in a perpetual state of decline. Rybak invited people to come to his open houses, which he has twice a month, to discuss these things.

Don Allen asked where the Minneapolis Urban League has been around this issue. And what about the Northside Marketing Task Force? (Hawkman interjects: the NMTF died a gruesome death from its own dysfunctions and is likely never coming back in any meaningful way. And what does that have to do with the issue at hand?) He also insinuated or directly claimed (my notes aren't quite clear on this) that the black people in attendance aren't representative of the community and are only there because they're running for office.

Rybak countered that he's never seen the MUL more focused than they are right now. They haven't always been so committed, but they're working with us now. (In fairness to Allen's question, nobody from the Urban League seemed to be in attendance. If they indeed are so focused, then they need to have a presence at large community events like this one so that we are aware of what they're doing.)

A Hawthorne resident asked what happens to the guns that get confiscated (they're destroyed, according to Chief Dolan). And how do we know about geographic restrictions? Roberta Englund of the Folwell and Webber-Camden neighborhoods directed her to the 4th Precinct CARE website. (Hawkman interjects: This site looks great and informative. But I can't seem to find anything on geographic restrictions. Anyone more familiar with the site, help me out. Because what we REALLY need is a dedicated area where people can go to easily search names, physical descriptions, crimes committed, and geographic areas so that residents can be informed and take action around this issue.)

But perhaps the most impressive speaker was Jamil Jackson, a northside resident and father who coaches basketball for our youth. He said the other night he had 113 kids in the gym playing basketball, and there was no violence. "They need us," was his plea for more volunteers to help with programs like this one. But he also called out the Boys and Girls Club, saying they want $5 for entry. So the kids who don't have that hang out across the street. And "of course the man with the money draws them in."

Jackson, like many others, heard a lot of discussion about issues, but likely left wanting more in the way of concrete solutions. Don't we all? But such is the nature of meetings like this Hawthorne Huddle. The dialogue and networking that happen are crucial, but what really matters is the results we get when we take action together.

JSPAN VIDEO EXCLUSIVE! Hawthorne Huddle on Violent Crime

Post and videos by the Hawthorne Hawkman

This morning, RT Rybak, Barb Johnson, Chief Dolan, and many other residents and public servants met at the Hawthorne Huddle to discuss the increase we've seen this year in violent crime. JNS is dedicated to getting you the videos sooner than any other media entity. A post describing the event will follow.

A Chicago Story North Minneapolis Should Hear...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

So while I was trucking through Chicago a few days ago, I pulled over to buy diesel and I saw this very interesting story in the Chicago Sun-Times. In summary: a 17-year-old teenager was shot in a drug dealing dispute in one of Chicago's rough neighborhoods. As he lay dying, a police officer asked the teen if he knew who shot him.

The teen answered...

...he knew, but he wasn't going to tell.

Here's the story online, click here.

This appears to be the ultimate extreme of the morally retarded "Don't Snitch" mindset, which leads to endless cycles of extra-legal street violence as victims, friends and/or families of victims seek revenge, and become perpetrators themselves.

At the confirmation hearing for Minneapolis Police Chief Dolan, I addressed this issue briefly and pointed out we need new legal tactics to deal with uncooperative witnesses who refuse to give up vital information about shootings, already plotting how they will heal up and dish it out tit-for-tat with live ammo. I've suggested hauling these "so-called victims" in front of grand juries, or doing psychiatric evaluations, or holding them in protective custody. Some or all of these.

The violence in North Minneapolis mostly happens within a small, thuggish mindset, who prey on each other. The tactics used by the authorities in our fair city are indeed working and reducing violence, but there is a stubborn recidivist remnant which digs in and refuses to change for the better. New tactics are needed. And perhaps we can start moving in the direction of new tactics with an open, freewheeling discussion as a result of horrible "teaching moment" incidents like this.

(Blogging from Frankfort, Kentucky)

Dave Bicking, Michelle Gross File Defamation Lawsuit Against CRA Chair Donald Bellfield...

Photo and blog post by John Hoff

It would be fair to say Dave Bicking, a member of the CRA (for now) doesn't get along very well with Donald Bellfield, who is the chair of the CRA. This conflict has hit the mainstream media, and this blog commented on it, as well.

Now Bicking is suing Bellfield, and Bellfield's girlfriend, for (what else?) defamation. Anybody who reads the Johnny Northside blog and can't name the plaintiff lawyer for this case needs to...

...sit in the corner with a white, pointy paper hat. The same goes for anybody who can't name the exact amount of damages demanded. Really, can't we get any new plots in these North Minneapolis political soap operas? The dramatic formula is getting a bit repetitive, and I fear viewers will begin to tune out, to maybe start following SOUTH Minneapolis soap operas.

Anyway, here is a link to the lawsuit, click here.

In a nutshell: somebody spray painted graffiti on Bellfield's house, Bellfield's girlfriend fired off an email and aired her suspicions about who she THOUGHT might be responsible (but never said, oh, she knew FOR SURE or anything like that) and next thing you know, Bicking and Gross filed a defamation suit.

Amazing. I mean, I was expecting some kind of new CRA lawsuit to fall like a dirty left shoe in an upstairs apartment on the other side of a paper thin ceiling...but I'm surprised the issue in this lawsuit is so petty and so oddly contradictory about whether free speech should be protected or, in fact, suppressed at every turn.

In the meantime, pro-Bicking folks are on the Minneapolis issues list, asking Bicking supporters to email their city council people, mayor, etc. to keep Bicking on the CRA.

But, really, ask yourself why Chief Dolan doesn't follow through on CRA recommendations for police officer discipline. Gee, would it have something to do with the board being stacked with individuals who are not exactly (what is the word?) moderate? Or reasonable? Or representative of the mainstream?

I wouldn't bet money on Bicking staying and, somehow, I think the vote might break down the same way as the vote to reappoint Chief Dolan.

Johnny Northside Blog Celebrates St. Patrick's Day With Video Footage Of A Real Life Leprechuan!

In celebration of St. Patrick's Day, here is about 58 seconds of video I shot of Michael Cavlan testifying at the recent reappointment hearing for MPD Chief Dolan. In a disjointed rant featuring a delightful Irish brooooogue, Cavlan says it's time to talk about "apples," meaning those who are red on the outside and white on the inside. He says it's time to talk about corporate greenwashing, and goes on to call the brave Minneapolis cops killers and rapists. He sums up by calling the city council members "a bunch of suffering sycophants."

Do not adjust your computer screen. Please note this angry little man appears ACTUAL SIZE. (Joke font)

But seriously, folks...

...the vote for Chief Dolan was 8-5. He won by just two votes. If Dolan's opponents had better leadership and more organization, they would have kept people like Cavlan from speaking, as well as Al Flowers. (Of course, Al was surprisingly boring, which always happens when he has PERMISSION to speak)

As it was, there was plenty of angry spleen venting, including one woman who used the phrase "f***ing c***" in front of the council. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

Rants like this one by Michael Cavlan only alienated the council members and helped lock in votes for Dolan. There's a time and a place to use angry rants: like having the very first speaker foam at the mouth, so subsequent speakers won't hold back and will all appear moderate by comparison. Then it's best to finish up with leaders who offer solutions and proposals and volunteer to take charge, be on a task force, etc. Really, did somebody skip Public Hearing 101? Too busy with all the fun of dodging tear gas?

Instead of being organized, the anti-Dolan opposition appeared to just throw a mad assortment of WHATEVER at the podium, like the ill-fated Task Force Smith in the Battle of Osan. At one point, Al Flowers was actually whining because so many pro-Dolan speakers got to the podium first. Well, that's what happens when you get up early and put your name on the sign-in sheet.

City council member Cam Gordon (a member of the Green Party) acted more like a winner, elaborating in detail on the criteria he was using to judge Dolan's performance. But how long, you have to wonder, can somebody like Cam Gordon survive politically amid so many CRAZIES?

MPD Chief Dolan Reappointment Celebration In Pictures!

Photos and blog post by John Hoff

With MPD Chief Dolan reappointed by a vote of 8-5, I thought it would be a good time to publish the last of my photos from the public hearing as a sort of celebration. Dolan's reappointment is a victory for decent people in North Minneapolis. The fact our crime is dramatically down mattered a lot more to a majority of the council members than the opinions of, for example, self-styled police brutality "activists," at least one of which doesn't even live in Minneapolis.

And you know what? I don't even have hard feelings for the council members who voted against Dolan. Such voting may have been strategic, along the lines of, "Yes, let Dolan be reappointed, but we have to let him know how deeply we feel about the need for continued reform." Thus Dolan passed with just enough votes to make it close...but not TOO close. Funny how that works, huh? There is no doubt reform must continue to move forward. The only disagreement among the folks who testified is whether Dolan was the man to do it. I say Dolan, you the man.

First, in regard to the photo above, it just looks like some chairs with "reserved" placards, right? Oh, but there was a little bit of drama associated with those signs. One of the anti-Dolan camp walked in and right away she was all, like, how come the POLICE get reserved seats? In a really nasty tone, too, the kind of intonation which makes you think, "Does this woman go around ALL DAY using that tone like nails on a chalkboard over the most minor of life's annoyances? Why does my gut feel like this is the case?"

This was early in the meeting, and there were still plenty of places to sit. I had to open my mouth and say something like, "There's plenty of seats. What's your problem?" I mean, it wasn't like there were no spots for the woman and her friends and only THOSE SEATS remained. Besides, Dolan was the subject of the hearing and it makes sense a few seats were reserved for Dolan and his entourage. Which, as it turned out, is exactly where he sat.

This kind of thing was typical of the rabid anti-Dolan crowd: any paper-thin excuse to heap criticism on the police, up to and including Dolan sitting where the city council authorities had reserved a place for him to sit...


In the photo above, an example of the "We Want Dolan" stickers. I hear some of the anti-Dolan crowd grabbed a few of the stickers and modified them with a ballpoint pen to become anti-Dolan stickers. Near the beginning of the meeting, I turned to Dolan and handed him examples of the signs and stickers, saying, "Souvenir, sir." He nodded and said, "Thank you." One commenter at the podium said all the signs and stickers made him think of a DFL convention instead of a public hearing.

Mark my words, the next time Dolan is reappointed (and I predict he will be) the anti-Dolan crowd will go overboard with signs and stickers. If Dolan continues to do a good job (and I predict he will) then pro-Dolan supporters must be ready to "step it up" to meet the challenge.


Deborah Allen didn't support Chief Dolan because he had fired the officer who shot Fong Lee. Of course, all the other anti-Dolan crowd not only supported the firing of the officer, but they were mad because Dolan didn't fire him SOONER and didn't fire him over the Fong Lee killing. Therefore, Allen didn't fit with the pro-Dolan crowd or the anti-Dolan crowd.

In her hands, she holds extensive files. I wasn't clear if the files concerned the firing of the officer, or an incident involving a crime committed against the business Allen used to own, which the officer was investigating. Or, it seemed, some of both. Due to the impending hearing, there wasn't enough time to talk to Allen but she seems to have a very interesting story.

Allen apparently feels the firing of the officer derailed the investigation into what happened at her business and she is unhappy with Dolan for that reason.

The day of the hearing was the same day an article appeared in the Star Tribune, highly critical of Diane Hofstede. It seemed to me Hofstede had a bit of a downcast look, but she attended the hearing and joined Samuels and Johnson in voting for Dolan, talking about what Dolan had done to slash violent crime.

Does that look like the face of a man who thinks he WILL NOT be reappointed? You be the judge.

The group "MADDADS" showed up in force to support Dolan. Here is one of their leaders. I love it when I'm riding a bus and the somebody from the MADDADS group is on board, helping to keep order.

When this woman got up to speak, I braced myself, thinking, "Oh, boy, she's going to say something about cops being mean to homeless people." Instead, she spoke strongly in favor of Dolan, talking about how police under Dolan have been helpful to the homeless. A representative from the Chamber of Commerce also spoke up for Dolan. When you've got the homeless advocates AND the Chamber of Commerce on your side, that's a rare thing.

Here, Tom Cleland and Michael Cavlan pass a note during the proceedings. Cleland was asking Cavlan how to spell "sycophants," a word Cavlan used more than once with his delightful Irish brooooooogue. Cavlan certainly didn't win over any council members with his rant but I sure did get some great video which I intend to post on St. Patrick's Day! (I will also point out Cavlan himself brought up something about Ireland and its "police state," so it's not like I'm going out of my way to mention his brooooooooogue)

Chief Dolan is known to carry his father's revolver. Yes, it's small, but I'm guessing it's a lot more comfortable to haul around all day than a Glock. Small it may be, but would you want to be on its business end?

Why does the council chamber appear to have incandescent lights instead of compact florescent bulbs? Just wondering.

Here is Matt McKinney, the Star Tribune reporter who wrote the execrable "great escape" article about Pete The Pedophile trying--unsuccessfully--to get me served with his gibberish so-called "lawsuit" in council chambers. Speaking to McKinney and reading his article, I took him to be some kind of young and naive intern. I was surprised to find out otherwise. Here's a word of advice to Northsiders: If McKinney calls you, tell him you'll be happy to speak to a DIFFERENT Star Tribune reporter. It appears McKinney is assigned to the "let's bash the police" beat, which is probably related to the "let's bash Northsiders who want to fight crime instead of give trays of brownies to miscreants hanging out all day on the corner" beat.

Here, Dolan and another high-ranking officer stand tall and receive quite a grilling from council members on police reform issues.

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the points I made at the podium when speaking in favor of Dolan.

1.) Don't just reappoint Dolan, give him the budget he needs to fight crime. Don't go saying, "Oh, crime is way down. Now we can cut the budget." Administrative staff who help disseminate information--such as former MPD employee Katie Schrieber--are very important to the overall effort, and their jobs should not be slashed in the name of penny-pinching.

2.) Hawthorn Crossings strip mall. Big problem. Crackdown on crime needed there. Haywood Eaton lost his life there, but just recently there was another shooting near the SAME EXACT SPOT.

3.) Part of the crime problem includes uncooperative witnesses who will not identify who shot them, but prefer to engage in cycles of retribution. Maybe these uncooperative witnesses need to be hauled before grand juries, bandages and all.

Last words, in the my last 10 seconds at the podium:

Annshalike Hamilton. Murder still unsolved.

Chief Dolan, please get this horrible crime solved.

JN-SPAN VIDEO: Al Flowers, The Mayor Of Crazy Town, Testifies At Minneapolis Police Chief Dolan Reappointment Hearing...

Al Flowers, who ran for Mayor on a platform of "more lie-berries" and increasing the "medium" (sic) income of citizens, added his 1 and 4/5ths of a cents worth of opinion to the reappointment hearing for Minneapolis Police Chief Dolan.

I guess it would be more accurate to say the hearing *ON* the reappointment *NOMINATION* of Chief Dolan, but it's just easier and, really, more frank to say "the reappointment hearing for Chief Dolan." Even Al Flowers pointed out how reappointment was pretty much a done deal and...

...really, there wasn't much to be accomplished by the anti-Dolan forces except make the record and vent their spleens and it was SO UNFAIR. Really, though, isn't this the moment one might want to be deeply introspective and ask oneself, "Am I a visionary, ahead of my time, or just an unorthodox malcontent who needs to pull up my pants, get some meds and psychotherapy and maybe--just maybe--finally start setting a good example for my children?"

Unfortunately, Al Flowers isn't very entertaining when you just GIVE him the floor. The best part of his speech was when he claimed not to be anti-police because, after all, his sister was "a police."

Yeah, well, a lot of important details got left out of that remark. For more, click here to read the story about the Flowers family and their habit of never-ending litigation including the not-so-illustrious career of Al's sister as "a police."

But I don't want to come off as too critical of Al Flowers. After all, if it wasn't for Al Flowers coming up and warning me at that same hearing, I would have gotten served legal papers by Pete The Pedophile.

JN-SPAN VIDEO: Festering CRA Battle Of Bellfield Versus Bicking At MPD Chief Dolan Reappointment Hearing...

Video and blog post by John Hoff

At the recent reappointment hearing of MPD Chief Dolan, there was a bit of a stir among the anti-Dolan forces as Donald Bellfield, the chair of the Civilian Review Authority, stood up to speak. Watch Tom Cleland to the right, and read his body language. This kind of "emotional stir" was going throughout the room among the anti-Dolan forces as Bellfield spoke, like Bellfield was Satan.

Recently, Bellfield had asked David Bicking to resign from the CRA for making what Bellfield thought were very anti-Dolan remarks at a public "bash Dolan" so-called "hearing" or "meeting" on the Dolan reappointment, click here for more details from City Pages.

Listening to what Bellfield is saying, he also appears to be alluding to the controversy with David Bicking. The second video is David Bicking, who also appears to be alluding to the controversy and, in fact, talks about a CRA meeting being cancelled and how he's going to show up, anyway.

Note the loud and repeated clapping. The chair of the Public Safety Committee asked the anti-Dolan crowd not to clap and intimidate people at the podium, but the anti-Dolan crowd defied the chair, one even name-calling the city council as "suffering sycophants."

This is not how you get city council people to vote your way.

(Do Not Click "Read More")

JN-SPAN VIDEO: "Pull Up Your Pants And Set A Good Example For Your Children"

In this video shot by Jordan Neighborhood super citizen Megan Goodmundson and posted on YouTube, a Northside resident testifying in support of Chief Dolan urges some in the anti-Dolan crowd to worry less about police brutality and more about "gang membership" by their own children. He said "pull up your pants and set a good example for your children." I wonder who he could be talking to, exactly?

Oh, wait. No, I have a fairly good idea who he might be talking to, exactly.

In the foreground, Tom Cleland can be seen making a hand gesture. This gesture is used at meetings of the Fifth Congressional District Greens, known as "5CD Greens." It sort of, um, magnifies good energy and dissipates bad energy? Something like that.

Don't knock it until you try it. Funny, I didn't see Cleland use that gesture when one of the anti-Dolan crowd got up and called the city council members "suffering sycophants."

(Do Not Click "Read More")

JN-SPAN VIDEO: Police Chief Dolan Reappointment Hearing

This video was actually shot near the end of the hearing on reappointment of MPD Chief Dolan. Here, Council Member Don Samuels acknowledges the criticisms directed at Dolan, but says all this is "secondary" to the fact the man dramatically slashed the rate of violent crime, with the most progress in North Minneapolis.

(Do not click "Read More")

Johnny Northside's "Great Escape," The Promised Detailed Account, And Ongoing Clues About The Location Of Johnny Northside!

Photo And Blog Post By John Hoff

So, as most readers know by now, I managed to escape legal service by Hennepin County sheriff's deputies forced to act at the behest of "Pete The Pedophile," who has filed a gibberish-filled midnight manifesto with the courts suing, well, everybody including Commander Mike Martin of the Fourth Precinct, a powerful law firm, the Jordan Area Community Council, (JACC) and a couple of cops. Due to the fact I have not yet been served, as of today, Pete the Pedophile still doesn't have "personal jurisdiction" over me.

Which is a good feeling. I ask you, dear reader, would you want a Level Three sex offender to have "personal jurisdiction" over YOU? What do legal phrases like "cross examine" mean in the mind of a sex offender sicko chomo? You have to wonder.

So let's talk a bit about the idea of "dodging service." First of all, it's perfectly legal...

...to dodge service. Yes, even when the service is from sheriff's deputies. I'm not giving ya'll legal advice or anything like that, but I studied up on the topic once upon a time and--the day after I escaped--a friend of mine checked with a licensed attorney. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT LEGAL SERVICE. You can leave town, or sit in your attic quiet as a mouse while people pound on your door, or find a way to slip out of City Council chambers through the city council offices. (Though that's a neat and rare trick, I'd have to say, and I'll admit reveling in it, just a bit)

Thugs already know this. People who live outside the law instinctively dodge service or, for that matter, warrants. Decent people, in contrast, don't usually have to think in terms of dodging legal matters. But in a neighborhood where frivolous, politically-oriented lawsuits are a routine part of "bare knuckle Northside politics," it would behoove decent folks to contemplate the notion of dodging service which--I have to point out--is GOOD CLEAN FUN, just like dumpster diving.

So there I was at the reappointment hearing for Chief Dolan, the room filled to standing-room-only with interested citizens of Minneapolis and at least one (Tom Cleland) who is not a resident of Minneapolis, but came to speak anyway about the appointment of our Chief. Whatever. There were clearly more pro-Dolan people in the room, judging by the WE WANT DOLAN stickers on numerous lapels and the fact the anti-Dolan faction is trying to claim it was "about even." No, it wasn't. There were more Dolan people there, including a number of uniformed police officers who did not speak but were sitting close to Chief Dolan.

(For the record, I helped distribute but was not involved in the creation of the stickers, so it would be erroneous for anybody--on Flikr.com, for example, click here--to say these were "John Hoff's" signs) However, the anti-Dolan crowd was more vocal and more of them went to the podium to speak, so all-in-all the speakers were about 50/50 pro- versus anti-Dolan.

Just before the hearing, Peter Rickmyer a.k.a. Peter Richard Stephenson a.ka. Pete The Pedophile skulked through council chambers, boldly walking up to the dias and leaving papers in the place where Third Ward City Council Member Diane Hofstede sits. I hope Hofstede has plenty of hand sanitizer back in council chambers. If I were an aid to Hofstede, I'd be sure to keep hand sanitizer stocked, or it might mean my job, click here for more info.

Anyway, earlier in the meeting, I had spoken to Deborah Allen, who was mad at Dolan for--get this!--firing the officer who shot Fong Lee. I guess, for a police chief, there's just no way to please all the critics...most of which thought firing the officer was a good idea, but wanted it to happen much earlier. Due to Deborah Allen's rather unique stance on why Dolan shouldn't be re-appointed, Jeff Skrenes dubbed her "the duck billed platypus of the anti-Dolan camp." Like, yeah, she's anti-Dolan but she just doesn't FIT with the regular anti-Dolan critters.

Well, anyway, at a point before the meeting started I saw ol' Pete the Pedophile chatting up Deborah Allen. And, I should mention, I KNOW THIS WOMAN. I talked to her myself before the meeting, and I once wrote an article about the business she used to run, Gopher Cleaners and Launderers. (The article can no longer by found on the Minnesota Daily server, but its footprints exist on the internet, click here) At the time I wrote the article, Allen felt she was being "forced out of business" by her landlord, and I felt her story was highly relevant to the U of M campus because the laundromat was very popular with college students.

So, when Spanky Pete got done talking to Allen--when there was a pause in the conversation, anyway--I walked up to Allen and said, "Hey, Deborah. Look, I know we're on different sides of this Dolan thing but I just thought you'd like to know--"

(At this point I could see Pete mentally bracing, waiting for what he knew was coming next)

"This guy you're talking to is Peter Richard Stephanson, a registered Level Three sex offender and a pedophile."

"Thanks, John," Pete said, reddening, and walking away.

Apparently, this was the most clever thing Pete could come up with, "Thanks, John." Yeah, a real zinger. Meanwhile, Deborah Allen said nothing, but her face wore a look of shock; the same look MOST people's faces wear when they discover they've been chit-chatting with a dangerous, perverted, deviant social pariah.

Pete didn't try to stick around to try gaining back any social ground with Deborah. When you're in polite company, and your Level Three status is mentioned...hey, the jig is up. Best to give up all pretense and just walk away, head hanging down, like a dog caught eating from the cat dish.

Well, sitting through the hearing I was already mentally calculating that I should give my testimony and leave because, I figured, Spanky Pete was off talking to the process servers, saying, "John Hoff is in City Council Chambers right now." But the reappointment of Dolan meant so much to my neighborhood, I was willing to risk getting served. I sat in a seat near the speaker podium, visible in the camera angle. As the hearings were broadcast and recorded I held up a "We Want Dolan" sign.

After one of the speakers objected to my sign, and the Chair of the meeting (Don Samuels) said the signs were "my right," I held up TWO signs. And so I sat, holding my signs, visible to the whole public-access-watching world.

At some point--right before I started holding up my signs--notorious loon and mayoral candidate (of Crazy Town) Al Flowers came up to me, leaned down and whispered, "John, there's a sheriff's deputy outside who wants to see you."

"Thanks, Al," I said, because I can be just as clever, you see, as Spanky Pete.

My friend Megan Goodmundson went out in the hallway to confirm the sheriff's deputy was there to serve me. (There was only one deputy, at first, but reportedly there were two during the course of the long hearing) Megan informed the deputy that I, John Hoff, wasn't going to come out of the council chambers. The deputy shrugged and said fine, he could wait. He was "getting paid by the hour" and could "wait all day" because he didn't want to "disrupt the proceedings."

I could see Al Flowers watching me, intently. Outside of council chambers, the lady from the Minneapolis Mirror had a video camera all set up. She was apparently so intent on capturing video of Johnny Northside getting served she was forsaking all the juicy Dolan hearing testimony, just waiting for that "money shot" of Johnny Northside being spanked with legal paper by Pete the Pedophile. Meanwhile, Pete himself was in chambers...watching. I was pretty much surrounded.

However, there are two doors which lead out of the council chambers. One, I knew, went through the city council offices. The trick, I thought, was to get through one of those doors instead of the main door.

I got up from my seat and spoke to a high-ranking public official who shall remain nameless but let's just say...it's not this guy's fault. I am capable of being cunning and coldly calculating when necessary. I used these skills for "social engineering." I explained to the (innocent, somewhat distracted) high-ranking official how I was on a tight schedule and--right after the council meeting--I really needed to have a word with some (any, really) of the council members from North Minneapolis about this emerging issue of Level Three sex offenders concentrated in North Minneapolis...though a state statute says that's not supposed to happen, click here.

Furthermore, I wanted to avoid the crowd and--if I might--just slip into the chambers for a MOMENT, because, really, that's all it would take? Just a moment of their time, in private?

And my request worked. The high-ranking official was agreeable, subject to one caveat: the council members would have to be willing to talk to me. No promises, you understand. (Me, nodding agreeably) He or she offered to slip me into the city council offices when the hearing was done and things were breaking up, so I might get a brief moment of "face time" with some or maybe even all of the North Minneapolis council members.

I said, hey, I owe you. Big time.

When the hearing started to break up, I was whisked into council chambers. While the high-ranking public official checked into the schedules of my elected officials, I scoped out the location of the side door. There. There it was. I wanted to dash through it immediately but, well, that would be rude. The high-ranking official came back with an apologetic look on his/her face: there just wasn't time for a meeting right now. Everything was so tightly scheduled.

Oh, I said, that was alright. Thank you, really, for trying. Could I just exit through this side door, here? Yes, of course, that would be fine.

I walked out the door and went quickly to the staircase, wishing I'd left my heavy backpack with Megan Goodmundson. I ran down three flights of grand Italian marble, quickly but prudently, no bannister-sliding, and at the ground floor I dashed past Poseidon, the Father of Waters, who looked right through me and said nothing.

Out in the street, which way to go? I thought about going around the building to the light rail stop, but quickly realized I needed to put distance between myself and the building. So I ran to the next light rail stop down the line, boarded the train, and went to Target Field. At that point, I started Tweeting stuff...like, "Where is Dog The Bounty Hunter when Spanky Pete really needs him?" And, of course, I started Tweeting lyrics from "fugitive songs" to Megan.

Gimme some water/
I shot a man on the Mexican border/
Cool, cool water...

Meanwhile, Megan Goodmundson told me the Johnny haters were all confused, wondering, "Where did he go? How did he just...disappear? There's Megan, so where is John?" Megan drove to the light rail station at Target Field to pick me up. I told her by text message, "Don't bring any heat with you ha ha."

One mysterious aspect of the whole adventure--and I keep turning it over in my head--is why Al Flowers warned me. Without the early alert from Flowers, I would have certainly been served. I have two theories on the matter, and I'm not sure which one is true.

1.) Al Flowers just wanted to watch the show, and he was trying to hurry it along so he could see me get served.

2.) It would be contrary to Al's principals to be aware of somebody pursued by the police, and not tip that person off if he possibly could. Also--say whatever critical things you like about Al Flowers, lord knows I do--the man is a parent and therefore the natural enemy of child molesters. So, for a bit, the usual political lines dissolved and Al Flowers was, for rare solar eclipse of a moment, my ally.

Um...I actually lean toward the first theory, though. With an impatient, child-like personality, Al Flowers wanted to watch a spectacle. Inadvertently, he tipped me off and kept that very spectacle from happening. Thanks, Al. (Sarcasm font) But I'm keeping an open mind to the first possibility.

That night, I made a point of sleeping at a friend's house. But, well, you can't hide out forever. So I thought it would be fun to start Tweeting my locations, seeing if it might attract the attention of process servers for the purpose of more edge-of-my-seat amusement and (I hoped) frustration for Spanky Pete if I should prevail.

Right when I started Tweeting my locations--determined to play this game for maximum fun--some chomo-loving snitch told Twitter I had (heaven forbid!) Tweeted somebody's address on Twitter. The irony! Right when I was going to start Tweeting my locations to help Pete a little bit, some pedophile-ally complained to Twitter and got my account temporarily suspended.

Oh, well. It would appear if I remove the "offending posts" the account will be re-instated.

And the game will begin again.

(Blogging from an eatery with wireless internet access, where I just finished some delightful broiled shrimp and peas)

(Find me if you can, Spanky Pete. I will be constantly giving you clues until you do!)

Chief Dolan Reappointment Hearing TODAY, 1-5 PM, City Council Chambers...

Stock photo and blog post by John Hoff

Dozens of anti-Dolan malcontents can be expected today in City Council Chambers to talk smack about the best Chief MPD ever had, Tim Dolan. I'm sure Al Flowers will be there, so it's worth going for the spectacle alone.

I'll be there. Maybe I'll get...



....served legal papers by Pete The Pedophile, maybe not, but I'll be there. Dolan has helped in the struggle to turn North Minneapolis into a decent place to raise children, and he deserves our support. NOW IS THE TIME to not only support Dolan, but perhaps lobby for some of the things we need: a crackdown on the rampant crime at Hawthorn (sic) Crossings strip mall, and something to be done about the dangerous concentrations of Level Three sex offenders, which can't help but make the job of the police harder.

So I hope many Johnny Northside readers will be in City Council Chambers today. Jordan Neighborhood "super citizen" Megan Goodmundson will be there with extra signs and stickers.

Facebook Group Pops Up In Support Of MPD Chief Dolan's Reappointment...

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff

Word comes from Jordan Neighborhood super-citizen Megan Goodmundson about a new Facebook group in support of Chief Dolan's reappointment, click here for a link.

It should be noted that when Goodmundson starts putting together online support, she is a force to be reckoned with: Goodmundson helped drum up votes for uber-hot cop Mark Klukow to win the One Man Minneapolis Pagent. Her latest effort is in support of Chief Dolan--who is also endorsed and supported by this blog, click here--to be reappointed police chief. I wouldn't want to bet money against Dolan, who will almost certainly be re-appointed because of, gee, dramatically slashing the violent crime rate.

There are, of course, some shrill naysaying voices but they consist of the usual municipal malcontents who can't drum up enough support to successfully play bridge, let alone block Dolan. Where, I wonder, is their finely-honed granola-flavored outrage when urban violence claims yet another life?

(Do not click "Read More")

JNS BLOG EXCLUSIVE: PDF Of The Recent Lawsuit Against Dolan

Contributed photo, blog post by John Hoff

Word has been flying around the Minneapolis issues list of a lawsuit against Chief Dolan, who is expected to be reappointed soon by the City Council despite an unrealistic fantasy to the contrary by a small number of activists. The recent lawsuit is filed on behalf of activist Dave Bicking, who was recently asked to resign from his seat on the Civilian Review Authority for participating in an event which could be fairly characterized as an anti-Dolan pep rally thinly disguised as some kind of objective "forum." One issues list source says, however, Bicking was careful in his remarks at that forum. 

The lawsuit--click here to enjoy your very own PDF copy--seeks dramatic court intervention in what could be accurately described as a "political question," the kind of stuff courts usually take great care to avoid. Basically, the lawsuit says Dolan is not doing his job when he doesn't discipline officers the CRA thinks should be disciplined. Where did the lawsuit come from? Well, I'll leave readers to experience their own personal sense of joy and discovery by checking out the PDF.

I will add this: right before the City Council elections I spoke to Council Member Diane Hofstede, and recently I've spoken to Don Samuels, saying something needs to be done about the frivolous and politically-motived lawsuits which the city is forced to fight, at great expense to the tax payer. Where these lawsuits will next come from can be predicted with stunning accuracy. The city officials who are forced to deal with this garbage over and over should have a meeting and plot a unified strategy, which may involve countersuits, Rule 11 motions, complaints to the Board of Professional Responsibility or--and this is probably what will need to happen--all of that stuff at once.

(Do not click "Read More")

Don Samuels Looks Forward To Continued Progress In NoMi...

Following his swearing-in yesterday, Council Member Don Samuels made some videotaped remarks, vowing to continue the progress North Minneapolis has been making in the last few years, with a focus on the well-being of children in terms of their education and safety.

Inside his small office--very plain except for the display of numerous action figures which Don either designed or accumulated during his time as a toy designer-- Samuels displayed some souvenirs of his last time in office, including bullets which came from...

...a single shooting incident, displayed in a glass right next to a brick from the demolition of the notorious Big Stop store. Somewhere in the office there is also a brick from the former Uncle Bill's store, a.ka. Uncle Lennie's. 



Fortunately, shootings and crime-ridden "inconvenience stores" are becoming increasingly rare in North Minneapolis as revitalization rolls inexorably forward.



Above, State Representative Bobby Jo Champion congratulates Samuels.



A framed Star Tribune article on the wall harkens back to the time when Don Samuels went on a fast to draw attention to the crime problem in North Minneapolis, and the need for public officials to do something. The fast was sparked by an incident in which a toddler was shot and injured. Ironically, the 19-month-old girl who was the catalyst for Don to go on this fast is actually the niece of Kenya McKnight, who ran against Samuels in the last election...producing an abysmal vote total.

The picture is an interesting composite of characters. Please note Mayor Rybak during his first term without a gray hair on his head. Also pictured is Chief Dolan, who was then Inspector Dolan of the Fourth Precinct. The female on the left is Sharon Lubinski, who is now Assistant Chief, but was recently appointed U.S. Marshall for the District of Minnesota.



Above, Samuels displays the rope which held up his tent during his July of 2003 fasting vigil in the Jordan Neighborhood.



Above, Don Samuels with his daughter, Saina. (Pronounced "Zay-nah") 



Don posing with his family after the swearing-in. The young woman on the left is Asante Samuels, who is in that "too cool to be seen with my parents" phase. (No matter how good her parents are at fighting crime!) Word is Asante is going to have some instructional cooking videos up on YouTube in the near future, which will feature both Asante and her father. I've had some pastries baked by Asante and she is an excellent cook.

Congratulations, again, Don and we're looking forward to you fulfilling your promise to work EVEN HARDER in the next four years to keep making our neighborhood better.

Johnny Northside Blog STRONGLY URGES The Reappointment Of Chief Dolan...

Photo From Bike Cops For Kids Blog, click here for link

Those of us in North Minneapolis who are--arguably--benefitting the most from the accomplishments of MPD Police Chief Dolan have a strong interest in seeing Dolan reappointed.

Recently, there was a heated back-and-forth discussion on the ubiquitous Minneapolis Issues List about whether the chief should be reappointed, click here for a link to that discussion. The way the conversation went, in summary, a guy named Tom Cleland wrote some rough stuff about Dolan from Cleland's leafy suburban paradise where he has all the livelong day to critique brave Minneapolis Police from his ultra-safe McParadise. In response, some individuals who are actually doing the heavy lifting of making North Minneapolis better, called out Cleland on his organic, free-range b.s.

In any case...active and involved citizens are grateful for the work of Dolan. Consider, if you will, this year there were 19 murders in Minneapolis. Contrast that with...

...the City of Chicago, where there were 453 murders. That's a ratio of roughly 24 to 1.

Dolan is not a perfect human being, nor a perfect police chief. But his ability to save the lives of Minneapolis citizens and make our neighborhoods safe for decent people--even what USED TO BE the roughest neighborhoods in North Minneapolis--outweighs everything else. If there is a rank over and above Police Chief--such as True Blue Saint--I say appoint Dolan to that position, too. My biggest fear is some McMurder Metropolis--like Chicago--will offer this magnificent man 4 times his current salary and a lovely lake home to come and solve THEIR deadly, bloody problems.

Please, Chief Dolan, NEVER LEAVE US!

Here, for Johnny Northside readers, is the content of a document which has been circulating in various places including the Minneapolis Issues List. Here are the significant accomplishments under Chief Dolan’s tenure:

Appointed: May 1, 2006 (interim), January 1, 2007 (appointment)


Crime:

Overall crime has decreased since May 2006

1. Homicides have decreased 60%

2. Robberies have decreased 47%

3. Violent crimes have decreased 37%

4. Property crimes have decreased 24%

5. CSCR/rapes have decreased 30%

(I should point out one of the Green Party values is "feminism." One would think cutting assaults on women would weigh heavily with Green Party loyalists)

6. Aggravated assaults have decreased 28%

7. Burglaries have decreased 20%

8. Larcenies/thefts have decreased 16%

9. Auto thefts have decreased 53%

10. Arsons have decreased 40%

11. Property crimes have decreased by 24%

Significant Public Safety Events:

1. 35W Bridge collapse - Received national and international praise for public safety response.

2. Response to the Iowa floods- Sent 30 officers to assist flood victims and local law enforcement.

3. Republican National convention; Along with St. Paul Police successfully coordinated the largest public safety response in the history of the State of Minnesota.

4. Presidential Obama Inauguration; Sent 56 officers to Washington D.C. to assist in security detail for this historic event.

Accountability:

1. Instituted new a department Discipline Matrix.

2. Implemented Early Intervention System (EIS) which will start taking referrals January 2010.

3. Instituted online citizen complaint reporting capability.

4. Police Executive Research Forum IAU/Internal Affairs Unit Audit 2008.

5. Critical Incident Response Audit conducted in 2007 by former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones.

6. Use of force review process intergraded through records management (CAPRS).

7. Created new Audit function within Internal Affairs Unit.

8. Created Chief’s Citizen Advisory Council.

9. Federal Mediation Agreement; More action items accomplished under Chief Dolan in 18 months than in previous 3.5 years and two police chiefs.

Disciplining Within MPD

1. 64 items were voted green: 58 of these were voted green during Chief Dolan’s tenure

2. 39 items were completed but never voted green for varying reasons

3. 16 items left unresolved for varying reasons

Discipline ranging from letter of reprimand to termination was imposed in 103 cases (IAU/Internal affairs Unit, CRA/Civilian review Authority combined).

1. Of the 103 cases, 19 employees were either terminated or resigned as a result of their sustained Internal Affairs Unit case.

2. Of the 103 cases where discipline was imposed, grievances were filed by the union in 44 cases. Of these 44 cases, 15 were settled between the MPD and the union. In one of these cases discipline was reduced by an arbitrator while others are still pending.

Hiring & Diversity:

The MPD is at its highest level of overall diversity in its history (18.81%).

1. January 2006: 17.69%

2. October 2009: 18.81%

159 officers were hired during Chief Dolan’s tenure. Of those, 49 were people of color; equal to 28.9% of the hired group.

Hired 68 Community Service Officers, of these 68, 47% were persons of color and 26.5% were female.

Created first ever Comprehensive Diversity Plan for the Department.

Established Multi-cultural Community Recruitment Team.

First ever minority recruitment marketing plan.

Technology:

Rollout of Shotspotter in Precinct 3 & 4. (JNS blog would like to add that Shotspotter has been a technological miracle, and one of the best moves this city ever made)

Computer Automated Dispatch (CAD) and Mobile Data Computer (MDC) upgrades.

Expanded public safety cameras in Precinct 4.

License plate recognition.

Handheld electronic citation system for all traffic unit cars

Replaced old micro cassette recorders with digital audio recorders for all investigators

Increased number of Tasers in use by patrol from 84 to 280. Of that, 81 are equipped with Tasercams. All new officers hired are now issued a Taser and Tasercam.

Received grant funds to transition VHS squad video cameras to new digital system.

Increased number of department squad cameras and outfitted all primary precinct squads. Total number of department cameras is 133 which is equivalent to 70% of our marked fleet.

Major Department Initiatives:

Re-established the Juvenile Division.

Re-established the School Resource Officer Unit.

Re-established the MPD Gang Enforcement Team.

Acquired Hamilton School to be used as a training center & base for SWAT/Special Weapons and tactics and the Special Operations Division.

Establishment of Strategic Information Crime Management (SICM); better track/dissemination of intelligence information than we ever have before.

Developed Financial Operations Group with a Finance Director; this to better track spending, grants, etc.

Merged Traffic Control into the MPD.

Re-design of department squads and re-branding of MPD with new motto, To Protect with Courage, To Serve with Compassion.

Department Awards and Accomplishments:

Minneapolis Metropolitan area named “Safest City in America” by Forbes magazine October 2009.

2009 National Night Out Award for being the top-ranked city in our category (#1 for cities with population over 300,000 people).

2009 IACP/International Association of Chiefs of Police Webber Seavey Award – Juvenile Division.

2009 Forensic Crime Lab ASCLD (American Society of Crime Lab Directors) ISO certification.

2009 IACP/Cisco Community Policing Award for our Court watch Program

2007 MN Chiefs of Police Honor for 35W bridge collapse.

2006 IACP/ITT Community Policing Award.

(End of document)

(Keep up the great work, Chief Dolan!)