Community-First Public Safety Commission Launched in Saint Paul to Reimagine Emergency Response

Strategic Insights -

In a step towards revolutionizing emergency response, Mayor Melvin Carter has announced the launch of a Community-First Public Safety Commission to re-envision public safety in Saint Paul. This 40-member Commission, co-chaired by Acooa Ellis of Greater Twin Cities United Way and John Marshall of Xcel Energy, will convene for 5 months, led by the Citizens League. Their task is to provide recommendations to the Mayor and City Council by May 2021, focusing on alternative first-response options to priority-4 and priority-5 calls for service, and approaches for community involvement in the City's Community-First Public Safety Plan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Commission will consist of 40 members, co-chaired by Acooa Ellis and John Marshall, with a broad array of voices, including community members, business leaders, law enforcement, advocacy organizations, and faith communities.
  • The Commission will convene twice a month starting in December and will establish subcommittees as needed.
  • They will examine alternative emergency response models and provide recommendations to the Mayor and City Council by May 2021.
  • The project budget is $71,200, paid for through the City's Innovation Fund.
  • The Commission will prioritize engaging members who live and work in Saint Paul, with a focus on community involvement in shaping public safety policies.
  • The project will be independent of the City of Saint Paul and will follow the Citizens League's operating guidelines.
  • The Commission will consider creating a city-staffed office to drive and integrate community involvement in public safety.
  • The project will build on the City's current Community-First Public Safety Framework, which invests in proven, data-driven approaches to public safety.

Statistics:

  • The Community-First Public Safety Framework invests more than $1 million in proven, data-driven methods from around the country and world.
  • The Framework engages 9 different city departments in a comprehensive public safety strategy.
  • The Framework reflects community-driven priorities from over 1,000 Saint Paul residents who participated in Mayor's Office community engagement events in 2019.

Sources:

  • Saint Paul Mayor's Office.
  • Greater Twin Cities United Way.
  • Xcel Energy.
  • Citizens League.
  • University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
  • City of Saint Paul.
  • Ramsey County.