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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEditionEdina_Oct-2024-WebA camera mounted on a light pole along Eden Avenue checks the license plate of every passing vehicle. (Photo by Maren Fullerton) License Plate Readers Help Police Battle Crime Technology Tracks Down Stolen Cars and Leads to Arrests BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND One of the latest tools for the Edina Police Department has quickly proven to be among its most effective. In less than a year, license plate reader (LPR) cameras have led to police recovering stolen vehicles, finding guns and making dozens of arrests. “They’ve actually created a lot of work for us – in a good way,” said Sgt. Dave Boosalis, who leads the LPR camera effort. He answered some common questions about the LPR program. How many license plate reader cameras are in Edina? Edina Police have 18 stationary cameras set up in strategic areas. Four mobile cameras are moved to any crime hotspots. Some police vehicles also are equipped with them. Several private businesses have purchased LPR cameras to share the data with Edina Police. The businesses do not have access to the data; only law enforcement agencies are alerted to LPR hits and can use the data for investigative purposes. What are the cameras used for? •Finding stolen vehicles •Spotting vehicles linked to a recent crime or a person with warrants •Finding missing people, including elderly adults last seen driving their car •Police investigations How do the cameras work? The cameras scan license plates that pass by and match them to any vehicles tied to owner warrants, crimes, reported as stolen or related to a missing or abducted person. The system automatically notifies emergency dispatchers of any hit. Before the cameras, officers would have to watch cars and manually input license plate numbers into a computer. How do they help in crime investigations? Aside from spotting a car involved, the data can be used to trace the movement of vehicles, tying them to crime scenes. “It’s a great investigate tool for detectives,” Boosalis said, noting LPR cameras are now deployed all over the country, with more coming online. A warrant is often required to access the data, as privacy laws limit access and storage. If LPRs are so successful, why are crimes like car thefts still happening in Edina? “While they are a great investigative tool, I don’t know they are necessarily a deterrent – yet,” Boosalis said. They have helped recover 23 vehicles as of late August. But they are just one tool to fight crime. Car theft is best deterred by simply preventing the theft, Police emphasize. It’s as easy as locking your car and taking the keys with you and keeping your garage doors closed unless you are in the garage or front yard. Police patrols, investigations, LPRs and other technology, along with vigilant residents, can be very effective. “Criminals come back to Edina because they know there is opportunity,” Boosalis said, urging people to help remove that opportunity. “Our hope is they continually see that effort and move on.” For more about Edina Police, visit EdinaMN.gov/Police. License Plate Reader Success From September 2023 when the first Edina Police cameras were launched through late August 2024: • Total License Plate Reader Hits: 170 • Reports generated from those hits: 58 • Arrests: 37 • Vehicles recovered: 23 • Hits related to police safety, probable cause or assisting another agency: 13 • Hits that led to illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia recovered: 5 • Guns recovered: 4 City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1 Edition: Edina OCTOBER 2024 Volume 11, Issue 10Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City Alternative Response Team Tackles Mental Health in Edina and Richfield Team Finds Success Making Touchpoints and Supporting Those Struggling in our Community BY LAUREN SIEBENALER The Alternative Response Team, an initiative created by Hennepin County and the cities of Edina and Richfield, has been working since the end of June to address mental health calls in a new way. Edina Police Chief Todd Milburn helped form the County’s first Alternative Response Team pilot program when he worked for the City of Brooklyn Park. Milburn said he encouraged the start of a similar team in Edina due to the increase in mental health calls over the last few years. Since the Edina Dispatch Center also dispatches for the City of Richfield, Milburn invited Richfield into his pilot program. The Edina Police Department has had a Hennepin County Social Worker, Donna Nelson, embedded in the department since 2020. Her role has focused mostly on following up with people going through mental health incidents. The new team is able to focus on responding to mental health incidents as they occur to help provide support in the moment and beyond that. “I might have brought in some of the framework from my previous work experience, but it’s the talented staff around here who has helped develop it into what it is today to fit the needs of Edina and Richfield residents,” said Milburn. Paramedic/Firefighter John Brooks, Detective Morgan Piper and Social Worker Cassy Jerrett comprise the team. Typically, Brooks and Jerrett are the two on the scene of an incident while Piper mostly works behind the scenes on all mental health-related police cases. The team works 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday right now, but that may not always be the case as they grow and learn from their call data. While working, they assign themselves to 911 calls with people in crises. They also are called upon by officers and paramedics when a call would be more beneficial for the team to handle. Recently, the Alternative Response Team has seen a few 911 callers directly request their presence instead of a police or fire response. The team has responded to 166 calls and put on over 1,000 miles on their vehicle in just two months. The team is designed to approach mental health calls in a different way than a typical police and EMS response. Police response is generally criminal in nature and fire response is medical in nature. The Alternative Response Team aids people struggling with mental health crises by giving them the extra time and attention they need in the moment to find a solution for their immediate concern and provide resources for better outcomes in the future, all while freeing up police and fire for other calls. “It’s been going extremely well. We’ve had good numbers out of the gate and we have had good buy-in with our officers,” said Milburn. “Those who have been served by the team have given us good feedback.” While the Alternative Response Team is comprised of these three, it is also supported by other staff in Hennepin County, Richfield and Edina. For more information on the Alternative Response Team, contact the Edina Police Department, 952-826-1610. Here’s a little more detail on the three who make up the team: John Brooks Paramedic/Firefighter Edina Fire Department, 26 years Three words Brooks uses to describe his role: Compassionate, Collaborative, Caring “One of the goals of the team is to soften the approach from first responders. There are some people who get more agitated when they have a bunch of people in uniform standing around and telling them what they need to do. Additionally, first responders really only have two options when dealing with someone in the community, and that’s you leave them or you send them to the hospital. Oftentimes, neither one is the right solution.” Morgan Piper Detective Edina Police Department, 14 years Three words Piper uses to describe her role: Investigative, Advocate, Resourceful “As a past Patrol Officer, I hated leaving a call and saying, ‘Sorry, there’s nothing more we can do.’ So having this new team to call and know that the person is going to get resources is so awesome. It would have been nice to have people who would show up when I didn’t have anything else I could do on the call. So I think that’s a huge part of it; wanting that closure before you leave the scene and knowing that something else can be done.” Cassy Jerrett Social Worker Hennepin County, 2 years Three words Jerrett uses to describe her role: Collaborative, Person-Centered, Referral “This has been my favorite job in the county so far. I love going out every day and being in Edina. I really enjoy it. The officers here are great. I enjoy the challenge of trying to solve something on scene to make it okay, at least through the day, and then being able to move on to the next day and see if there’s resources or services to address what that will bring.” 2 Candidate Profiles Edina City Council The following profiles were submitted by candidates, who are on the Nov. 5 ballot. Edina voters will elect a Mayor and two City Council Members. Learn more at EdinaMN.gov/Election. What do you like best about living in Edina? What would you like to help the City improve? Areas of emphasis in your campaign? Ron Anderson MAYOR Address: 5728 Kemrich Drive Years in Edina: 36 Website: Anderson4mayor.com •Sense of Community •Beautiful neighborhoods •Acceptance •Architectural standards for new development •Condition/addition of public facilities •Meeting the challenges of an increased population and public safety •Transparency of process – disclosure •Financial accountability •Partnership with residents Jim Hovland MAYOR Address: 5023 Nob Hill Drive Years in Edina: 35 Website: Hovland2024.com •The incredible commitment to children, family and education that is part of the very fabric of our town. •The sense of place, neighborliness, caring and belonging that one has from living in Edina. •That Edina strives for excellence in everything – including education, its medical, retail and financial services, its businesses and land use. •Continually strengthen our sense of community and commitment to each other. •Continue to strengthen our communication with our residents and continue to improve the transparency with which government operates. •Ever greater citizen input on matters that will allow the Council to make well-reasoned decisions. •Continue to be a community looking ever forward and effectively managing change based upon our resident and Council-created strategies. •Continue good city management and the effective delivery of services to our residents. •Respect all interests and act always with fairness and integrity to seek the common good. Ryan Daye CITY COUNCIL MEMBER Address: 6808 Chapel Lane Years in Edina: 3.5 Website: Ryan4edina.com •The tranquility and sense of community within its diverse set of neighborhoods. •The benefits of the suburban setting while still being close to the Twin Cities’ cultural and economic opportunities. •The numerous parks and recreational areas, including running and walking trails, bike paths and beautiful landscapes. •Connecting residents to key information regarding City governance and development and making it easy to follow and understand. •Finding ways to maintain and improve core City services without relying solely on increased leveraging of taxes. •Building strong communication channels with residents and encouraging increased public participation in decision-making. •Prioritizing balance between the push for growth and maintaining assets that make Edina a top place to live. •Incentivizing necessary change in the community through engagement and collaboration in place of top-down decision making and mandates. •Promoting fiscal responsibility within city government. We must strive to keep Edina an affordable and welcoming place for all. Carolyn Jackson CITY COUNCIL MEMBER Address: 5716 Continental Drive Years in Edina: 25 Website: Carolyn4Edina.com •Our neighborhood parks. The park near our house is a great place to meet neighbors and enjoy outdoor activities. •Our helpful police and firefighters. They respond quickly and respectfully. •Our civic connection. Edina has many community organizations that give people the opportunity to help and to develop leadership skills. •Make the City more bike and pedestrian friendly. We need safe ways for all ages to avoid car traffic. •Increase workforce housing affordability. •Build Fire Station 3 to lower response times for the northeast quadrant of Edina. •Completing construction of the Edina Art Center at the new Southdale Library. •Working to implement the Southdale Area Plan to make the commercial core of the City more walkable and bikeable. •Resolving the use of the former Public Works site in Grandview, including the addition of a recreational area. James Pierce CITY COUNCIL MEMBER Address: 5505 Merritt Circle Years in Edina: 11 Website: Pierceforedina.com •My family and I appreciate the natural park-like environment of many Edina neighborhoods, along with the access to trails. •We value the convenient access to Edina’s retail options and its proximity to other cities. •We cherish the sense of community here, feeling more connected than in any other place we’ve lived. •I am committed to advancing solutions for housing affordability for all city residents. •I aim to enhance pedestrian connectivity by emphasizing nature and sustainability. •I strive to help the City uphold its high standard of quality services for residents. •Prioritizing housing affordability for all residents. •Achieving a balance of smart, sustainable development. •Encouraging greater community involvement and engagement. Ron Anderson Jim Hovland Ryan Daye Carolyn Jackson James Pierce 3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4 Energy & Environment Commission to Host Electric Vehicle Showcase Oct. 5 See Your Neighbors’ EVs Up Close and Learn What It’s Like To Have Your Own Are electric vehicles fun to drive? How long does a charge typically last? What are the environmental and financial benefits of owning or leasing one? Get your list of questions ready for friendly and helpful EV experts in Edina, who also happen to be your neighbors! The City’s Energy & Environment Commission will host its first Electric Vehicle Showcase 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, in the Edina City Hall parking lot, 4801 W. 50th St. Enjoy live music and a food truck as you walk around and learn more about different types of electric vehicles. The event is free to attend. A group of residents have volunteered to bring their personal vehicles to show attendees different styles, features and price points. Featured vehicles include Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Chevy, Ford, Kia, Rivian and Tesla models. The event will exclusively feature BEVs − or battery electric vehicles − that are fully electric and have no gasoline engine. “This is a fun and no-pressure opportunity to connect with people in your community who drive electric vehicles every day and hear from them about what they like and don’t like about their vehicles. So as someone considers buying one, they can feel like a better- informed consumer,” said Tom Tessman, Energy & Environment Commissioner and event planning co-lead. If you’re wondering about rebates, incentives and charging, Drive Electric Minnesota and Xcel Energy will be at the event to answer questions. Two dealerships, Golden Valley Tesla and Edina’s Key Cadillac, will also be there to share more information. Edina’s Climate Action Plan aims to have 25% of vehicles in Edina be fully electric by 2030. According to the plan, for every 1% of vehicles converted to electric vehicles, 2,750 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions can be eliminated annually, including emissions associated with increased electricity consumption. “Electric vehicles have a lot of advantages. A fully electric vehicle has zero tailpipe emissions and maintenance costs are often lower. For example, you will never have to get an oil change again if you purchase a fully electric vehicle,” said Sustainability Manager Marisa Bayer. “There are also lower operating costs. Xcel Energy estimates that with their EV charging programs, at- home charging equates to spending about $1 per gallon of gasoline.” To learn more about the showcase, contact Bayer at mbayer@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-1621. - COMPILED BY BRITTANY BADER OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Thursday, Oct. 3, 3-7 p.m. Last Farmers Market of the season, Centennial Lakes Park Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Llamas on the Plaza, 50th & France Saturday, Oct. 5, 7:15 p.m. Night Glow Golf, Braemar Golf Course Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 a.m. Housing & Redevelopment Authority Meeting, Edina City Hall Monday, Oct. 14 Indigenous Peoples Day Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m. City Council meeting, Edina City Hall Saturday, Oct. 19, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 20, noon-4 p.m. Free Fall Buckthorn Dump, Braemar Golf Dome Thursday, Oct. 24, 4-5:30 p.m. or 5:30-7 p.m. Halloboo Trick-or-Treat Trail, Edinborough Park Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-noon Trick-or-treating, 50th & France Saturday, Oct. 26, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 27, noon-4 p.m. Free Fall Buckthorn Dump, Braemar Golf Dome Sunday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m. First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band, Edinborough Park Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning Commission meetings live on Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16) or online. For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit EdinaMN.gov.