2020.06.23 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Worksession June 23, 2020 5:00 pm Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson Councilmember Graeme Allen Councilmember Emily Dunsworth Councilmember Nasreen Fynewever Councilmember Paul Jacobsen Absent: Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Tony Paetznick Guests in Attendance: Discussion with Director Tony Paetznick regarding New Brighton Public Safety Department Massopust explained Director Paetznick was present to educate the public on the New Brighton Public Safety Department. He commented on the importance of listening, learning and then leading the community. Paetznick provided the Council with a PowerPoint presentation that addressed recent questions from the Council and public. He commented on the public safety model that was in place in New Brighton. He reported the Core Strategies for his department were to ensure a safe and livable community with the strategic objectives to provide adequate staffing levels for emergency response, to provide proactive prevention and education, improve roadway safety, to have neighborhood engagement and to promote a positive public safety narrative. The 2020 Strategic Plan was reviewed with the Council. He described how he has had to rethink training and community engagement since 2017. He indicated community engagement would continue to be a focus for him. He discussed how his officers worked to have intentional interactions with the community and underserved populations. Paetznick discussed the topics that were shared on the LISTEN web page which was dedicated to openness with transparency of policing in New Brighton. He reviewed the six pillars of 21st Century Policing from a national level which were: building trust and legitimacy, of having proper policy and oversight in place, how the department harnesses technology and social media, the value of community policing and how this impacts crime reduction, how the department properly trains and educates its officers, and maintaining officer wellness and safety. Paetznick described the framework the department had in place to continue the good work that has already begun in the community stating the Police-Involved Deadly Force Encounters Working Group from Minnesota has come up with the following five pillars: community healing and engagement, prevention and training, investigations and accountability, policy and legal implications, and officer wellness. He discussed the recommendations within each of these pillars. He reviewed how the five stakeholder groups can assist with implementing the task force’s recommendations. The importance of training and transparency with the public was discussed. He thanked the City Council for properly funding and supporting the Public Safety Department.