Kingfield Crime and Safety Meeting
Wednesday, April 19
7-8pm
MLK Park
Attendance: 9 Kingfield residents (including representatives from both the NW and NE Citizen Patrol walking groups).
MPD: Tom Thompson , Community Safe Officer
KFNA Staff: Joanna S. Hallstrom, Project Organizer – KFNA
Hallstrom reports that there are two official Kingfield Citizen Patrol Walking Groups consisting of 20 members.
CPS Thompson handed out the most recent Kingfield Crime Map and highlighted crime patterns and answered resident questions about recent incidents.
Among major concerns is the increase in gang activity around the Lyndale and Kingfield neighborhoods. Thomson identified 11 gangs in the area and gave a brief description of specific gang symbols to look for in new and excising graffiti. The April 12th shooting that happened at approximately 9:20 pm at 38th and Nicollet Ave. was gang related and fortunately nobody was seriously insured. The Kingfield Northwest Citizen Patrol had just finished walking that intersection at 9pm the evening that this incident occurred. This was very concerning to them.
Thompson stated that the increase of crime in the area seems to be related in part to the police crackdowns and pressure in North Mpls. He explained a process called spider mapping where the MPD charts the location of a crime to the address of the suspected criminal. Within the 5th Precinct there is a definite pattern of South Mpls crimes committed by people with North Mpls addresses. Thompson cautioned that this is not the sole reason for Kingfield’s increase in crime but that a pattern has been noted.
Thompson was asked what the best way to protect children in the neighborhood is. He responded by advising parents to know where their kids are going and hanging out and get to know the parents of kids.
Residents from VanNest reported a very active crack house that they have been monitoring on their street. Residents from 1st Ave. reported regularly observed drug activity at 40th Street and Nicollet Ave. This activity takes place in the tennis center parking lot, around MLK Park and in the car wash. Residents reported drug activity in one of the apartment buildings on the 3900 block of 1st Ave. A resident also reported about past drug and prostitution activity in the area of 39th St. and Blaisdell Ave.
Thompson noted the importance of recording data that can be used by the police and specialty crime unites such as: car descriptions; license plates numbers; times, days, and dates of activity; photos and video. Collecting this type of information is a process and takes time but it is one of the best ways to enable drug specialty teams to come in and make a bust.
Thompson reviewed with the group methods that the community can use to address crime:
Community Policy – organize block clubs, citizen patrols, Crime and Safety Task Force Committee
Outreach to landlords – notify landlords of tenant behavior, encourage landlords to include the “crime free addendum” in their lease agreements. This will allow landlords to screen tenants better and take action against tenants that become involved in criminal activity. The community can also put pressure on the landlord to address property and nuisance behavior violations through a preexisting multi-step process that Thompson can help residents navigate.
Court Watch – the neighborhood can organize to participate in the Court Watch program which tracks chronic offenders through the court system and empowers residents to report offender violations which will be used in their prosecution.
Restorative Justice – the neighborhood can become involved in a Restorative Justice Program which allows community members to meet with an offender and impose the penalty for the offense.
Communities Impact Statements – residents can file Community Impact Statements that will be used in the prosecution of offenders. These statements are especially helpful with repeat offender cases. Residents simply file a statement (forms available electronically or hardcopy) that expresses the impact a certain offender has on the safety, livability, etc. of individuals in the community.
Call 911 – Thompson repeated the importance of consistently calling 911 to report incidents, regardless of whether or not residents witness immediate response to their calls. In prior meetings Thompson and Lt. Przynski explained how 911 calls are prioritized.
Call CPS Thompson – residents can call Thompson to follow-up with crime inquiries or for assistance navigating the MPD and the various specialty units.
Next Steps:
The group decided that it would be beneficial to organize into an official KFNA committee in order to more formally and systematically address the increase of crime in Kingfield. Hallstrom will return with this request to KFNA’s executive director and request official KFNA board support. The next meeting will be focused on developing a neighborhood crime prevention/action plan.
Thompson noted that it would be beneficial for KFNA to get the Park Police involved in our planning and crime prevention efforts.
Announcements: 
The block leader for the 3900 block of 1st Ave. announced a block meeting scheduled for Sunday, April 23rd at 6pm. Residents from 38th street to 39th street from 1st Ave. to Steven’s have been invited via door knocking and flier distribution.
Hallstrom announced the 8th Ward City Council Summer Safety Strategy Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 25 at Powderhorn Park at 7pm.