[ST. PAUL, MN] – Yesterday, Governor Tim Walz launched a statewide public safety tour in Brooklyn Park to hear from Minnesotans on the public safety needs in their communities and discuss what his public safety budget – including $300 million for cities, counties, and tribes – would mean for communities across the state. A detailed list of the funding that would be made available to each community is now available online. Under his budget, the average city in Minnesota would receive about $240,000 to invest in public safety. Brooklyn Park would receive over $1.48 million per year to provide for their communities’ public safety.

Yesterday’s roundtable discussion with Brooklyn Park city leaders and first responders follows recent public safety meetings the Governor and Lieutenant Governor had with community leaders in North Minneapolis and Eagan. Photos from the event are online.

“We are embarking on a statewide public safety tour to hear directly from Minnesotans about the public safety needs in their communities,” said Governor Walz. “My plan invests $300 million directly in local communities to improve public safety across the state. Whether it’s providing communities with the funding to attract and hire new officers, purchase modern technology, or invest in mental health resources, our provides cities and counties with the resources they need to keep every neighborhood safe.”

“We know there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to public safety – that’s why our budget invests in a comprehensive, holistic vision of public safety,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “We are empowering communities to take the lead with state support so that every Minnesotan is safe, protected, and valued in their community.”

"Brooklyn Park could benefit greatly from these funds. While overall crime in our city is lower than it's been in years, the number of violent crimes has skyrocketed. We must put an end to the lawless behavior, and we need the resources to continue partnering with community organizations. The safety of our city depends on everyone doing their part,” said Brooklyn Park Police Chief Craig Enevoldsen.

"Each of us may wear a different uniform, but we're all in this together. Brooklyn Park has invested in full-time career firefighter staffing, among other improvements. It’s imperative that we keep up the momentum and create a pathway for young adults to begin their career in public service, via our Firefighter Cadet Program,” said Brooklyn Park Fire Chief T. John Cunningham.

“Brooklyn Park has long offered great programs and partnered on initiatives such as our Brooklyn Park Youth Outreach Team and our work with BrookLynk’s Young Adult Entrepreneurship Program,” said Brooklyn Park Mayor Lisa Jacobson . “It is critically important that we have resources to continue investing in diversionary and alternate pathways for young people. The long-term success of every child depends on the care and investment of the positive adults that surround them.”

An outline of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s public safety proposal is below.

Invest $300 million in local governments to improve public safety
The Walz-Flanagan budget invests $300 million over three years to cities, counties, and tribes across the state, encouraging and supporting new ways of meeting the evolving expectations of public safety in communities across Minnesota. The budget also invests in recruiting peace officers who represent the population of our state and reducing violent crime by providing investigative support to local agencies. The budget also funds several grant programs to invest in the changing needs of communities as they address increased crime, providing funding for Minnesota’s community-based crime prevention grants that fund such programs as probation, youth services, truancy programs, elder abuse prevention, neighborhood watch, resident engagement, and other community-driven intervention and prevention strategies.

Fund a Statewide Violent Crime Initiative
Increased violent crime is a threat to thriving communities across Minnesota. Effective violent crime strategies must employ a coordinated approach of prevention, intervention, and enforcement. This proposal will leverage forensic science to identify perpetrators of violence and clear the innocent, use analytics to strategically identify those committing violent crimes, and leverage partnerships to investigate violent crimes. Critical resource gaps currently exist in some of our most challenges communities. This investment will create the capacity to provide much needed assistance to address violent crime.

Invest in community groups to prioritize youth intervention and juvenile justice
Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan propose providing resources to programs serving youth, including after school activities, tutoring, mentoring, and other services for youth. The Walz-Flanagan budget also provides funding to develop community-based alternatives to juvenile detention, including ongoing funding to establish Community Outpost Houses and invest in TRUCE youth conflict resolution centers to connect community members can connect with outreach programs; learn about applicable government services; obtain community meeting spaces; host mentoring and tutoring programs; and provide youth conflict resolution, suicide awareness and counseling, health and wellness, entrepreneurship, and leadership programs. This proposal is focused on building relationships and trust within communities; providing opportunities to create relationships between community and local law enforcement; reducing crime; and providing youth with a place to resolve conflict in a positive non-violent manner. The budget also establishes Crossover Youth Practice Model and Dual Status Youth Programs in counties throughout Minnesota to support youth who are both in child welfare and juvenile justice systems.