As mpls downtown continues to reanimate, we are committed to helping provide you with the resources and information as you return to downtown with more regularity. Part of that is knowing the work being done and the trends we’re seeing throughout our downtown community. We know through public safety reports that as we compare year-over-year to 2019 and 2020 and the overall four-year average, downtown mpls continues to show a decrease in overall crime statistics. There are challenges we are facing, but the perception of safety concerns vs. the reality of the day-to-day downtown experience are very different. To help, we are providing resource contacts, FAQ information and overviews of efforts being taken throughout the downtown community.
Emergency Services
Emergencies: 911 | More emergency information
Text-To-911 | Call if you can. Text if you can’t.
Services include MPD, Metro Transit Police, Park Police, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and Mpls Fire Department
Non-Emergency Resources
City services and information: 311 (or visit the 311 online resource page)
Non-emergency police assistance: (612) 348-2345 (more info)
City of Mpls ways to report a crime or incident
Metro Transit Safety Info Page | Suspicious or threatening behavior on bus, light rail or at transit shelter: TEXT Metro Transit Police at (612) 900-0411 | Also available through the Metro Transit Mobile app
Mpls Parking Safety: Website information | Text: “SECURITY” to 1-844-722-2692 | Call: (612) 339-3411 | If you are on Mpls Parking property, you can push a security button located nearest to you
DID Ambassador services and Safety Communications Center
If you need DID Ambassador services or other assistance downtown, please call the DID Hotline: (612) 332-1111.
Additional information + Parking/Transit resources
Mpls downtown reanimation info: Back to office occupancy, open restaurants, skyway hours, etc.
City of Mpls Reloadable Parking Card
Metro Transit NexTrip | Metro Transit Rider Alerts | Metro Transit Info: (612) 373-3333
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Yes, the Minneapolis City Charter requires a minimum level of police staffing based on the number of residents in Minneapolis, and the 2021 city budget includes more than $171 million for the MPD. In addition, the city is investing in additional community safety initiatives.
Yes, a small portion of the 2021 Minneapolis Police Department budget (less than 5%) was reallocated to fund or enhance funding for different public safety programs, departments and initiatives, many of which are part of the Office of Violence Prevention. Examples include:
The best options for reaching out is the DID hotline (612-332-1111). Unless it includes illegal activity, then call 9-1-1.
Additional security presence will be downtown during the trial, and downtown continues to be open for business.
If you have personal safety concerns, you can TEXT Metro Transit Police at 612-900-0411 to report suspicious or threatening behavior while on a bus, train or at a transit shelter. The service is also available through the Metro Transit Mobile app.
The Mpls DID Ambassadors will provide assistance to you in walking to your vehicle or transit location. Call (612) 332-1111 to request an Ambassador assist.
The City of Minneapolis selected seven community organizations to provide positive outreach and support services during and after the trials. These organizations are A Mother’s Love, Center for Multicultural Mediation, Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI), Corcoran Neighborhood Organization and T.O.U.C.H. Outreach, Change Equals Opportunity (CEO), Restoration Inc., and We Push for Peace. These organizations will provide positive outreach and community engagement, support two-way communication between communities and the City, de-escalate, mediate and resolve conflicts if needed, and share information about existing City and community supports and help community members access them. Contracts run through Dec. 31, 2021.
Mpls will vote on the November ballot regarding the future of public safety. There are broad-based coalitions working toward fair and just public safety for our community. A New 612 is a broad-based coalition of business, labor and community organizations coming together to position Mpls for a brighter future. All of Mpls is a broad-based effort to promote accountability of candidates and elected officials to a broad and diverse base of Mpls voters. Together Mpls‘ goal is a just and stable Mpls that offers opportunity and prosperity to all–working to elect responsible, consensus-driven public officials, to transform — not defund — the police department, and to pass a charter amendment that clearly separates mayoral and council powers.
Local law enforcement works hard to ensure the safety and well-being of residents, workers and visitors to Minneapolis. In addition, MPD, Metro Transit Police and the Hennepin County Sherriff’s Department work together, as needed, with a common goal of keeping our city safe. Plus, community and business leaders throughout the city work together on multiple initiatives to help ensure a safe environment for visitors and residents. This includes easily identifiable Mpls Downtown Improvement District (DID) Ambassadors who help visitors with directions and information, providing roughly 89,000 pedestrian assists each year. Additionally, Minneapolis downtown partners are connected to a Safety Communications Center. It’s located in the Minneapolis Police Department’s First Precinct and focuses on rapid responses for inquiries or incidents when needed.
City of Minneapolis
Office of Violence Prevention
The City of Mpls Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) uses a community-focused, public health approach to help ensure that everyone can be free from violence. We work to break the cycle of violence by addressing it at three points: Preventing it before it begins; Intervening at the first sign of risk; Healing after it happens.
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Hennepin County
Social outreach worker
Hennepin County Outreach Social Worker – James Seals
James Seals began his position as a Hennepin County Social Worker in March 2021. He is the social worker for the new partnership between Hennepin County Behavioral Health and the Mpls Downtown Improvement District’s (DID) Downtown Joint Outreach Program. James coordinates directly with the DID Livability team and other outreach partners throughout downtown, builds relationships with impacted communities and the broader social service community, and responds to calls for assistance through the DID Safety Communications Center.
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Additional DID Wraparound Support
DID Ambassadors. Communication Services & Street Outreach Teams (Click Here for the full 2021 DID Safety Plan overview PDF)
DID Ambassadors
The Mpls DID Ambassadors are the friendly faces of downtown: people who are approachable and welcoming. They can offer suggestions for things to do, help with directions, and even open a door for you if your hands are full. The Clean Ambassadors also focus on making downtown shine and Safe Ambassadors are on hand to keep an eye out for you and your surroundings. The DID Ambassadors are a wide variety of people with one thing in common: They love downtown. They each bring unique talents and interests to their work in downtown.
DID Safety Communications Center
Mpls DID’s Safety Communications Center, located within the Minneapolis Police Department’s 1st Precinct, serves as a downtown safety information hub. Dispatch Ambassadors work inside the DID Safety Communications Center 365 days a year, responding to pedestrian requests from Ambassadors on the street, tracking weather and emergency alerts, communicating with outreach services for people in need, monitoring public area cameras and collaborating with private security. The Safety Communications Center is a resource for day-to-day needs as well as a major asset for overseeing big downtown events. For more information on the DID Safety Communications Center, contact Shane Zahn.
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Outreach Services
DID Livability Specialists
Mpls DID’s Livability Team works hard to provide resources to those in need by providing connections resources and partner organizations that can help in different capacities. The Livability Team works directly with the downtown community, answer direct calls, and make connections to ambassadors, local street outreach groups, property owners and law enforcement. A incident management system called ISS provides real-time communication between the DID Safety Communications Center and the Livability Team. It enhances response time and provides a record of the call origins, action taken and resolution.
MAD DADS
MAD DADS seeks to bring about positive change, and encourages, motivates and guides committed men and women in the struggle to save children, communities and themselves from the social ills that presently plague neighborhoods. The organization works throughout the downtown core.
YouthLink
Mpls DID teams with YouthLink, an organization which serves as a critical resource for youth experiencing homelessness, on several outreach initiatives including a newly-launched Youth Outreach Program. This program aims to connect the city’s youth with resources they need to find independence. It includes young outreach employees who have or are still experiencing homelessness as a way to help direct them to YouthLINK or other vital resource.
Youth Coordinating Board (YCB)
The Mpls DID and Youth Coordinating Board partner to provide a Street Outreach Program throughout the summer. The program connects youth with activities and resources along Nicollet and the Warehouse District and aims to interrupt the behavior cycle for youth who are disruptive or disengaged downtown by connecting them to meaningful activities or resources.
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Additional Information
mpls downtown council
81 south 9th street, suite 260
mpls, mn 55402
© 2024 mpls downtown council
