Mpls Downtown Improvement District

 In a press release issued today, the Minneapolis Police Department announced a partnership with the Downtown Improvement District to address issues of youth crime, loitering and dangerous behaviors In the Downtown core. Beginning today and running through August 26, the program will task the police departments’ School Resource Officers (SRO’s) with patrolling Downtown areas that have been identified with have a high concentration of youth during the summer.

The use of SRO officers is designed to continue relationships between the police and youth, who may have encountered each other during the school year. “The officers in the SRO program are carefully selected for their ability to interact with youth, gain their trust and provide kids with access to resources in ways that the normal patrol officer cannot,” said Juvenile Division commander Captain Ike Delugo in the statement. “Using these officers for this program is an excellent use of their talents when school is not in session.”

The SRO’s will patrol their designated beats from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Fridays. The goals of the program include:

• Police visibility
• Building relationships and trust with youth in the program area
• Promotion of the PAL and Step Up programs
• Next day curfew violation follow-up with parents
• Focusing on chronic youth criminal offenders
• Maximizing relationships with area businesses and community members especially in relation to youth issues
• Collaboration with YouthLINK and juvenile probation.

Source: Downtown Journal