Park Perspective February 2021
www.stlouispark.org
Follow the city’s strategic priorities In 2018, the St. Louis Park City Council adopted the following five strategic priorities. Look for the icons throughout this and future editions of the Park Perspective to read stories about how the city is working to meet these priorities. St. Louis Park is committed to: Being a leader in racial equity and inclusion in order to create a more just and inclusive community for all. Continuing to lead in environmental stewardship. Providing a broad range of housing and neighborhood-oriented development. Providing a variety of options for people to make their way around the city comfortably, safely and reliably. reating opportunities to build social capital C through community engagement.
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Police department updates use-of-force policy In July 2020, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and at the request of the St. Louis Park City Council, St. Louis Park Police Department Chief Mike Harcey and Deputy Chief Bryan Kruelle provided an overview to council members of the police department’s use-of-force policy. They also updated the council on the Minnesota Police Accountability Act, which was signed into law in July 2020 and required law enforcement agencies in Minnesota to update their use-of-force policies to be the same or substantially similar to the model policy provided the Minnesota Board of Police Officers Standards and Training (POST), by Dec. 15, 2020. The city council supported the police department’s proposal to form a workgroup to work with police staff on updating the use-of-force policy to comply with the new requirements. The workgroup included volunteers drawn from the city’s police advisory and human rights commissions and the multicultural advisory committee. Before its first meeting, the workgroup received the police department’s current use-of-force policy along with the model policy provided by POST. During three subsequent virtual meetings in October and November, the workgroup reviewed the policy, engaged in policy discussions, provided updates to each of their commissions and committee and provided valuable community input on policy recommendations. Workgroup recommendations were incorporated into the final revised use-of-force policy that was adopted and implemented by the police department. All St. Louis Park police officers completed training on the new use-of-force policy by the Dec. 15, 2020, deadline required by the Minnesota Police Accountability Act. Visit www.stlouispark.org/police to read the new use-of-force policy and to learn more about the St. Louis Park Police Department.
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Join the police multicultural
advisory committee!
The police multicultural advisory committee (PMAC) provides advice, suggestions and assistance to the St. Louis Park Police Department to help in better serving, communicating with and understanding the many cultures that live in, work in and visit St. Louis Park. Candidates should: • Live or work in St. Louis Park, or have other significant connection to the city • Be able to attend meetings on the third Wednesday of each month, 6:30 – 8 p.m. • Be connected to the community and act as a bridge between the community and the police department • Be willing to work cooperatively with the police department in enhancing relationships between all cultural communities and the police To apply, you will need to: • Visit www.stlouispark.org/pmac to complete the application • Pass a criminal background check • Complete a brief interview with police department staff For more information, contact Officer Katie Fitzhenry, PMAC coordinator, at kfitzhenry@stlouispark.org or 952.928.1427.
Neighborhood watch
block captains needed!
Neighborhood watch is a voluntary program aimed at reducing your likelihood of becoming a crime victim. It works by teaching simple, yet proven crime prevention techniques and by building relationships between neighbors and the police department. Neighborhood watch block captains help maintain the safety and well-being of their neighborhood by coordinating neighborhood watch activities for their block. To find out if your neighborhood is organized, volunteer to become a block captain or for more information, contact Community Outreach Officer Ken Sysko at 952.924.2661. You can also complete the neighborhood watch block captain application at bit.ly/2Z6qO8i.
Help shape our community! Applications are being accepted for both adult and youth positions on these City of St. Louis Park boards and commissions: • Community technology advisory commission • Environment and sustainability commission • Housing authority • Human rights commission • Parks and recreation advisory commission • Planning commission/board of zoning appeals • Police advisory commission Terms begin May 31. Apply online by Sunday, Feb. 28 at www.stlouispark.org/boards-commissions.