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June 3, 2026
In this issue:
Minneapolis launches Summer Safety Plan
The City of Minneapolis is launching a coordinated Summer Safety Plan that brings together public safety departments, community organizations, and regional partners to prevent violence, respond to emergencies, and help residents and visitors safely enjoy the city throughout the summer.
The effort begins with Operation Safe Summer, a focused initiative led by the Minneapolis Police Department that targets individuals known to engage in violent crime through coordinated enforcement efforts with law enforcement and prosecution partners.
The City’s approach to safety emphasizes both prevention and community engagement. City departments and community work together on violence prevention, youth engagement, emergency preparedness, and public education campaigns, while also supporting major summer events.
In June, during Gun Violence Awareness Month, the City is highlighting efforts to reduce gun violence through focused enforcement, community outreach, youth programming, violence interruption strategies, and public education on safe gun storage.
The Summer Safety Plan extends beyond traditional policing. The Neighborhood Safety Department, Minneapolis Fire Department, Emergency Management, and Emergency Communications Center are expanding outreach, preparedness, and emergency response efforts during the busy summer months. Initiatives include violence prevention programs, water and weather safety education, enhanced rescue readiness, severe weather planning, and public awareness campaigns that help residents access the right services when they need them.
These coordinated strategies have produced measurable results in recent years. Violent crime has declined significantly, including sharp reductions in carjackings, shots-fired calls, and non-fatal shootings. City leaders also report hearing from residents in historically impacted neighborhoods who say they feel safer in their communities.
Real Results
Over recent years, the City’s focused and coordinated public‑safety strategies have delivered measurable, year‑round results:
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Violent Crime: According to the City’s Crime Dashboard, the 3-year averages of most violent crimes are down more than 20% -- and in some cases, such as carjackings, down nearly 40%.
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Shots-Fired Calls: Year-to-date, the City’s shots-fired calls are less than half what they were five years ago.
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Non-Fatal Shootings: Non-fatal shootings are down 56% -- from 582 in 2021 to 255 in 2025.
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Community Feedback — City leaders are also hearing from residents in historically impacted neighborhoods who report feeling safer in their homes and communities.
We are making meaningful progress. But one crime is one too many. The City will continue to prioritize public safety and invest in strategies that ensure every resident feels safe in their home, their neighborhood, and across the community.
Join us to kick off summer safety
Join us Saturday, June 6, for our Summer Safety Kickoff, a family-friendly event where neighbors build a safer community together. Meet safety providers and first responders, get fire and crime prevention tips, learn about preparedness and access helpful resources.
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What: Summer Safety Kickoff
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Where: Peavey Field Park, 740 E. 22nd St.
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Inspector Peterson named as interim police chief
On June 2, Mayor Frey announced First Precinct Inspector Bill Peterson as Interim Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department.
Peterson, a 30-year veteran of MPD, has served in leadership roles across patrol, special operations, pre-service training, and precinct command. He has helped lead the department’s response to major incidents and events, including the North Side tornado, the I-35W bridge collapse, periods of civil unrest, and large-scale public safety operations such as the MLB All-Star Game and Super Bowl LII.
Since 2019, he has led the First Precinct, overseeing public safety operations in seven neighborhoods: North Loop, Downtown East, Downtown West, Loring Park, Elliot Park, Cedar Riverside, and a portion of the University of Minnesota West Bank. As Inspector, Peterson has focused on building strong relationships with residents, businesses, neighborhood organizations and violence prevention partners across the First Precinct.
Peterson’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Minneapolis, as the City continues implementing major public safety reforms, rebuilding staffing levels, reducing violent crime, and strengthening trust with communities across the city. His experience leading major operations, implementing training initiatives, and working alongside community partners positions him to guide the department through these priorities while maintaining a clear focus on public safety.
Read more about Peterson's appointment.
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Street renamed for Officer Jamal Mitchell
 Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our community in 2024. To honor his legacy, a portion of Blaisdell Avenue has been dedicated to him. Blaisdell Avenue between Franklin Avenue and W. 22nd Street is now known as “Officer Jamal Mitchell Way”. The unveiling of the street sign took place on the two-year anniversary at the same location where Officer Mitchell tragically lost his life.
On May 30, 2024, Officer Mitchell raced to help a man in the Whittier neighborhood, not knowing the armed man he approached had just killed two people. Officer Mitchell was shot and killed in the line of duty, leaving behind a fiancée, four children and many other family and friends. Officer Mitchell had only been with the department for a year and a half, but the impact he made will last a lifetime
This commemorative street name stands as a lasting tribute to Officer Mitchell’s sacrifice, service, and the legacy he leaves behind within the Minneapolis community and the Minneapolis Police Department.
Watch highlights from the dedication ceremony.
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MPD celebrates recent graduates
Minneapolis welcomed 27 new police recruits and six lateral officers at a graduation ceremony May 20 at Shiloh Temple in North Minneapolis. These graduates mark another important step in rebuilding and growing the Minneapolis Police Department’s ranks. MPD continues to move closer to its required minimum staffing levels as new officers continue joining the force.
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Congratulations EMS Pathways graduates
Congratulations to the 20 new graduates of the EMS Pathways Academy! Last week's graduates are the 10th graduating class since the program began in 2016, with nearly 200 graduates who have become firefighters and paramedics across the metro area.
Held in partnership with Hennepin County Emergency Medical Services, the EMS Pathways Academy is a 12-week paid internship program, training students to learn what it is like to be an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). It also provides the preparation needed to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) test, which can open many doors to careers in emergency services and public safety.
Learn CPR during CPR and AED Awareness Week
Each year, more than 350,000 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with about 70% happening in homes. Since fewer than 40% get the urgent help they need before professional help arrives, it’s important to learn CPR.
Do you know how to save a life in a cardiac emergency?
During CPR and AED Awareness Week, June 1-7, we highlight the importance of learning CPR and how to use an AED. Immediate CPR and AED use can double or even triple someone’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.
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June is Gun Violence Awareness Month
Gun violence affects families, neighbors, and our entire community. Addressing it requires more than enforcement – it requires collaboration, compassion, and accountability.
June is Gun Violence Awareness month, a time to honor survivors and victims of gun violence. Our Neighborhood Safety Department supports a three-part community-centered approach to reducing Gun Violence.
Using a Group Violence Intervention (GVI) strategy, we bring together:
This collective effort works to reduce gun violence driven by groups and gangs, working with those at the greatest risk of being involved in gun violence. GVI helps them understand the moral and legal consequences of continued engagement in violence and connects them to support and outreach providers.
Sign up for emergency alerts
Did you know you can get alerts directly from the City of Minneapolis? We use Smart911 to send important information to residents about:
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Major infrastructure issues
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Major special event impacts
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Reporting noise complaints
As the weather warms up and we spend more time outside, the number of noise complaints the City receives increases. Our 911 center gets the most calls of the year during the week of July 4.
Keep 911 open for emergencies
Help reduce 911 calls to allow priority emergency calls to be answered as quickly as possible. Call 911 when:
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Someone needs medical attention
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Fireworks are directed at people or property
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Fireworks start a fire or cause smoldering
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Children are using fireworks unsupervised
Use 311 for non-emergencies
You can make noise and fireworks complaints through:
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Texting “fireworks” to 311898 to report on the City’s website
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By calling 311 during business hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday
Free Naloxone (NARCAN) training
Join a free, hands-on training to learn how to use Naloxone (NARCAN), a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
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Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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Location: Public Service Building, Room 100A, 505 4th Ave. S.
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