The recent resignation of former Minneapolis Police Chief O’Hara marks a change in leadership for the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) and our City’s community safety system, but it doesn’t change our commitment to keeping Minneapolis safe. Interim Chief Bill Peterson brings continuity to this transitional period.
A 30-year veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department, he’s held leadership roles across patrol, special operations, preservice training, and precinct command. Since 2019, he has led the First Precinct, overseeing public safety operations across seven Minneapolis neighborhoods. While leadership changes raise honest concerns, we enter the summer with strong structures in place, experienced professionals, and coordinated partnerships to continue delivering community safety services.
These foundations are especially important as we enter one of our busiest and most vibrant times of year.
A coordinated approach to summer safety
Neighborhood parks fill with families, trails bustle with bikers, community events bring us together, and people gather to enjoy everything our city has to offer. Summer in Minneapolis is when our city comes alive.
 Three people, one of which is a Minneapolis Police officer, show jumping double dutch at the Minneapolis Summer Safety Kickoff event
But as activity across the city increases, so do the demands for safety. During the summer, we intentionally build upon our year-round coordinated community safety approach. Our focused season plan brings together public safety, emergency response, violence prevention, and public health strategies to promote well-being throughout the summer months. Whether it’s reducing gun violence, preparing for severe weather, supporting large events, or connecting people to critical resources, our goal is simple: to create a safer, healthier Minneapolis every day.
The importance of that work was evident during a recent community safety resource fair at Peavey Park. Following several shootings there this spring, we intentionally chose the park as the site of our Summer Safety kickoff. We chose the site, impacted by several shootings this spring, intentionally to replace harm with healing and to bring people together to foster connection and community.
Gun violence through prevention and partnership
Reducing gun violence is a key priority across Minneapolis. While enforcement has an important role, lasting reductions in violence require prevention, intervention, and community partnerships. Our Neighborhood Safety Department (NSD) leads several strategies designed to reduce violence and support safer communities, some of which include:
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MinneapolUS (Violence Interrupters)
- Trusted community members walk through neighborhoods most impacted by violence to de-escalate conflicts, build relationships, and help prevent the cycle of violence before it occurs.
- Read about the violence interrupters
 The back of a Metro Youth Division member’s shirt is shown during a MinneapolUS Violence Intervention walk-along
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Next Step
- An organization that partners with hospitals to support victims of violent injury, based out of Hennepin Healthcare, North Memorial, and Abbot Northwestern. Case managers provide immediate bedside support and continue supporting participants after they leave the hospital, connecting them to mental health services, employment opportunities, and resources that help meet basic needs and support long-term recovery.
- Read about our partnership with Next Step
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Group Violence Intervention (GVI) and Youth Group Violence Intervention (YGVI)
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Collaborative violence reduction strategies that bring together community members, law enforcement, and social services to engage individuals at the highest risk of involvement in gun violence. Working with people at the highest risk of being involved in gun violence, GVI/YGVI seeks to reduce gun violence driven by groups and gangs by helping them understand the moral and legal consequences of continued violence while connecting participants to support and outreach providers.
- Read about Group Violence Intervention strategy
As we enter the summer months, these partnerships and programs remain key to Minneapolis’ strategy to reduce gun violence. By working together with community members, service providers, and public safety partners, we can continue preventing violence, supporting those most at risk, and building a safer Minneapolis for everyone.
Building safer communities together
Community safety is strongest when we work together. Our Summer Safety plan reflects the work happening across City departments, residents, community organizations, businesses, and neighborhood partners to support Minneapolis throughout the busiest months of the year. Our work is rooted in the belief that safety is not defined by one single response. It is built through ongoing investment, collaboration, and connection.
— Todd Barnette, Commissioner
City of Minneapolis Office of Community Safety
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