City of Saint Paul issued the following announcement on Nov. 21.
Today, Mayor Melvin Carter announced the launch of a Community-First Public Safety Commission to re-envision emergency response in Saint Paul. The Commision will focus on alternative first-response options to priority-4 and priority-5 calls for service, and approaches for ongoing community involvement in the City’s Community-First Public Safety Plan, including considering the creation of a city-staffed office to drive and integrate this work.
The Commission of approximately 40 members will be co-chaired by Acooa Ellis of Greater Twin Cities United Way and John Marshall of Xcel Energy. The Commission will convene for 5 months in a process led by the Citizens League, and will provide recommendations to the Mayor and City Council in May 2021.
“Now more than ever, amid the many crises we face, re-envisioning emergency response is a critical step toward realizing safer outcomes,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “This Commission will help us expand our Community-First Public Safety Framework, and further chart a path forward for our community.”
“Today, one of the most pressing issues we face is a steady increase in calls for service,” said Police Chief Todd Axtell. “We have an obligation to make sure officers are available when people need them—especially for the most serious crimes. And while we’ve taken steps to address the issue by adjusting deployment, leveraging technology and targeting resources, we should never stop pushing to do more for our city. My hope is that this commission builds on our work and helps us identify even more efficiencies.”
“At this pivotal moment in our city and our nation’s history, we must continue moving a new vision for public safety forward,” said Council President Amy Brendmoen. “This commission will advance this work and bring together many voices to shape how we keep our community safe during these uncertain times.”
“Community safety beyond policing starts with shifting away from the punitive, costly and reactive status quo of traditional law enforcement and investing deeply in neighborhoods and residents most impacted by historical injustice and police violence,” said Councilmember Mitra Jalali. “As this commission embarks on its work, we need to center those voices in this and every forthcoming process in the work ahead for our city.”
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up