 Interim Fire Chief Melanie Rucker
Mayor Jacob Frey announced Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker will serve as Interim Fire Chief of the Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD) following Chief Bryan Tyner’s retirement at the end of the month. Chief Rucker becomes the department’s second female fire chief and first African American woman to lead the department.
During her more than 26-year career in the City, she’s served as captain, battalion chief, and deputy chief. She currently serves as assistant chief and public information officer. She brings extensive operational experience, strong leadership, and a deep understanding of the department and its mission.
The City has already begun a national search for its new chief. The selection process is expected to be completed by spring 2026, pending City Council approval. Once the new Chief is in place, Chief Rucker will resume her previous role.
🌐Read the full story on the City's website
 Fun, fireworks and get-togethers are all part of New Year’s celebrations. Unfortunately, there’s also a big increase in non-emergency 911 calls around New Year’s Eve.
Over the past few years, the Minneapolis 911 center has experienced a nearly 20 percent surge in calls between Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 compared to a non-holiday period.
Help keep 911 lines open for emergencies.
When to call 9-1-1
- If someone is injured or needs medical help due to fireworks
- For an active fire
- If fireworks put people or property at risk
- If fireworks use escalates into violence or poses an immediate threat
When to call 3-1-1
Use 311 for non-emergencies that don’t require an immediate response, such as noise complaints or illegal fireworks use that isn’t threatening life or property.
Make noise and fireworks complaints by:
- Using the 311 mobile app
- Submitting a report online
- Texting “fireworks” to 311898 to report on the City’s website
- Calling 311 during business hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday
 The City of Minneapolis updated its separation ordinance, which prohibits us from participating in federal immigration enforcement activities.
Here’s what you need to know:
What’s new:
- An executive order by Mayor Frey – now codified in the ordinance – prevents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from staging on City-owned lots and ramps
- New reports to Mayor and City Council
- Updated training for employees on the separation ordinance
What doesn’t change:
- The City does not participate in immigration enforcement and will not self-deploy to an ICE-related event
- MPD protects the safety of everyone, regardless of immigration status
As we witness increased federal immigration enforcement throughout the Twin Cities, we are committed to doing everything in our power to keep our community safe and support everyone living in fear of being targeted.
MPD is dedicated to community policing as a means of reducing crime while building community trust. Therefore, MPD will investigate criminal activity without regard to a person’s actual or perceived immigration status. Doing otherwise would have a chilling effect on our ability to provide public safety to our community.
🌐 Find more updates and resources on the City's website
 Being Minnesotan means standing together with one another — especially in moments of fear. As we continue through the winter with increased federal immigration enforcement activity, we want to be clear: Minneapolis stands with our immigrant and refugee communities.
Our city is built by people of many backgrounds, cultures, and faiths. Different stories, one shared home. All are welcome here.
Watch our video
Minneapolis is our home. We are Minnesotan.
▶️ Watch on the City's YouTube
 It’s been a long road, but Dywon Tatum turned his life around, and now he’s helping others do the same. Founded by Tatum in 2023, ENVisualize, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that the City of Minneapolis recently contracted with to provide violence prevention services.
The goal of the City’s violence prevention services program is to build trust with people who are at high risk of violence, mediate conflicts, connect people to resources, and shift community norms related to violence.
Working across the City in North Minneapolis, Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods, and in the Cedar-Riverside area, ENVisualize works to build long-term, trust-based relationships with community members in areas experiencing violence or instability. Their role focuses on connection and support rather than immediate conflict mediation.
Understanding contracts and how business models work is essential to working with the City. It’s an area Tatum didn’t learn until attending the Blueprint Approved Institute (BPAI). This City-sponsored program gives professionals and organizations the business tools they need to help prevent violence.
🌐 Read Tatum's full story on our Community Safety Stories page
Attend an Information Session in January 2026 to learn more about the 12-week internship
The City of Minneapolis is committed to helping the local Emergency Medical Services workforce be diverse and reflect the community it serves. At the EMS Pathways Academy, students will train to learn what it is like to be an Emergency Medical technician (EMT) and take the EMT certification test.
Applications will be accepted from Dec. 29 - Jan. 12.
Interested applicants can plan to attend an information session in January 2026. Learn more about the opportunity and find information session dates and times.
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Minneapolis Fire Department’s top five safety tips for winter
December and January are the peak months for home fires in the United States. Most home fires start in the kitchen, but the second group of leading causes are those that most likely occur during these months.
Here are the Minneapolis Fire Department's top five fire prevention tips for December.
- Keep portable heaters at least three feet away from anything that could burn, such as wood, furniture and fabric. Also, teach your children to stay clear of the device.
- Keep fire extinguishers in several places throughout the home, especially in the kitchen. Fire extinguishers have a lifespan of around ten years, so make sure your fire extinguisher is current and pressurized.
- Candles are festive and decorative, but cannot be left unattended even for less than a minute. Place them far away from anything flammable and on a hard level surface, out of reach of children. And if you have a real Christmas tree, be sure to water it daily and turn off the lights before going to bed.
- Replace your smoke alarm batteries each year. Each room or your home should have its own smoke alarm in it. Check your alarms each month to make sure they are operational.
- Create a family emergency plan that includes how to escape a fire and where to meet. Practice your plan often so that it becomes second nature and valuable time is not wasted if an actual fire happens.
By following these five easy tips, you and your family will enjoy holidays knowing you have precautions in place in case of a fire.
All of us at the Minneapolis Fire Department wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday season!
Watch our video
Minneapolis Fire Department Safety Tips for Winter
▶️ Watch on the City's YouTube
 MPLS Parking app now includes snow emergency alerts
Knowing when a snow emergency is declared is now easier than ever. The MPLS Parking app will now send users push notifications when a snow emergency is declared and for each day of a snow emergency.
To receive snow emergency push notifications
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Download the MPLS Parking app
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Create an account
- While not required to receive notifications, an account is required to interact with the notification and view the information in the app.
- Payment information is also not required if not using the app for metered parking.
About the previous app
The former standalone snow emergency “parking rules” app is now discontinued and no longer supported. If you already have the former app, it will no longer reflect snow emergency statuses or receive app store updates. The app will not be automatically replaced by the MPLS Parking app. Users who wish to receive push notifications about snow emergencies should download the MPLS Parking app.
🌐 Read more about snow emergencies on the City website.
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Winter in Minnesota can bring dangerously low temperatures. Staying safe and warm can be difficult. We offer guidance on staying warm and resources to navigate lower temperatures.
How to stay safe and warm in extreme cold
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Limit time spent outside.
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Dress in layers and keep clothes and shoes dry.
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Check on family, friends, neighbors, and older adults who may live alone or need help.
Hennepin County, the Salvation Army, and other organizations in the Twin Cities metro area have warming centers when temperatures drop below zero.
When it snows, remember to shovel your sidewalk
Sidewalks are an important part of Minneapolis’ transportation system, and they should be open for everyone. That’s why Minneapolis ordinance requires property owners to clear sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall for houses and duplexes and four daytime hours for all other properties. It’s the law, and it’s the neighborly thing to do. If your walk’s not cleared, the City could have it cleared and you would be billed.
Don’t forget your garbage, recycling and organics carts. Crews need a 36-inch-wide path from your carts to the street or alley.
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